World Diabetes Day is marked every year on the 14 November and is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes Mellitus is an abnormally high blood glucose (sugar) level caused by the inability of the body to either produce or respond to insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone, which is necessary to carry glucose from the bloodstream into the body cells where it is used for energy. If there is too little insulin, the blood glucose level continues to rise, as glucose is not removed from the bloodstream.
Risk factors for diabetes
These include age, obesity, a family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, and impaired glucose tolerance.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Constant thirst
• Increased hunger
• Urinating more than usual
• Numbness or tingling in the fingertips and toes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurred vision & other visual disturbances
• Skin infection due to slow healing wounds
• Constant tiredness
Note, however, that symptoms vary from individual to individual.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
A blood sample is taken to test the glucose level. High blood glucose will usually indicate diabetes. If glucose is detected in a urine sample, it also indicates diabetes, which will then be confirmed with a blood test. Normal blood glucose level is 4 – 6 mmol/l.
Can diabetes be cured?
Unfortunately there is no cure for diabetes, but with careful monitoring and commitment to a healthy lifestyle, diabetics can avoid complications and enjoy a long, productive life. It is especially important to control weight, blood cholesterol and blood pressure, to do regular exercise and to avoid smoking.
Controlling blood sugar levels by following a healthy diet, exercise and medication decreases the risk of long-term diabetes complications.
What should a diagnosed diabetic eat?
Ideally a diabetic person should go to a dietician for dietary advice.
The following gives general dietary guidelines:
• Attain and maintain a healthy body weight.
• East small, regular meals, including snacks, and do not skip any meals or snacks.
• Include plenty of fibre-rich carbohydrates such as whole-wheat products, dry beans, vegetables and fruit.
• Give preference to unrefined carbohydrates.
• Include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables in your diet every day.
• Limit fat intake, especially saturated fats (animal fats) and remove all visible fat from meat, and skin off chicken, before cooking.
• Use healthier cooking methods such as steaming, oven baking, microwaving, boiling, or braaing over the fire – instead of deep frying in oil or adding fat.
• Sugar, salt and alcohol should only be used by well-controlled diabetics and then only in limited quantities.
• Drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day.
• Do regular physical exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three times per week. Any exercise programme should be initiated with the permission of your doctor.