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Diabetes

ALWAYS THIRSTY???

IF YOU SAID YES, READ FURTHER, THIS COULD BE YOU!

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a condition where the body produces either too little insulin or the insulin does not work properly. This results in an increase in the sugar (glucose) level in the blood. If the high level of glucose is left untreated, irreversible damage may be caused and even death.EARLY WARNING SIGNS:

  • Abnormal thirst
  • Very regular urinating
  • Severe dry skin
  • Continued hunger
  • Poor vision
  • Severe tiredness and lack of energy
  • Nausea
  • Wounds healing difficultly

COMPLICATIONS AND RISKS:

A: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar):
due to an access of Insulin, strenuous exercise or eating too little food, symptoms such as hunger, pale complexion weakness, dizziness irritability etc. can result in loss of consciousness.Treatment involves quick restoring of sugary food or beverages.

B: Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
due to too little Insulin or improper use of Insulin. Other factors may be due to eating more than planned, exercising less than planned and emotional stress or illness. Symptoms include thirst, frequent urination and high levels of glucose in the urine.

C: Long Term complication of Diabetes:
30% of diabetics when diagnosed already have serious complications such as:

  • kidney failure
  • heart disease- 75% of diabetics die from cardio-vascular complications,
  • nerve and circulatory damage -50% of all amputations performed are due to uncontrolled diabetes,
  • visual impairment -50% of patients with uncontrolled diabetes have visual impairment after 15years,

TYPES OF DIABETES:

TYPE 1 -INSULIN DEPENDANT. These People need daily Insulin injections and will usually be younger than 20 years of age when the Diabetes is diagnosed for the first time.

TYPE 2 - NON-INSULIN DEPENDANT. These people may be able to control the diabetes with medication or proper diet. These people usually have insulin in their system but it does not function properly. The people are most at risk, as they often do not know that they have diabetes.

HIGH RISK INDIVUDUALS:

  • Diabetes in the family
  • Older than 40 years
  • High blood pressure suffers
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Obesity
  • Asian population group
  • Mother with babies having a birth weight of more than 4kg.

DIAGNOSIS:

This can be done by means of a simple blood test. If you are at risk in any way and have some of the warning signs mentioned above please come during DIABETES WEEK 23-26 APRIL 2001 for your free blood glucose screening.