Every case of diabetes is serious!

Whether you are just curious about what the differences are between the three different types of diabetes, or want to know how you can lower your risk of diabetes, as there is no cure for it, Dr Govender explains “Diabetes – The Real Condition” in this article and offers steps to look after yourself and stay healthy.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose, also called “blood sugar”, is too high. Blood glucose is your body’s source of energy and comes from the food we eat.  Insulin (just one of our body’s many hormones) is made in our pancreas and is used to get the glucose from food into your cells to be used for energy.  Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough – or any – insulin or doesn’t use insulin well.  Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.  Over time, having too much glucose in your blood circulation can cause health risks. 

The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make any insulin.  For some rarely understood reasons your immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas that make insulin.  Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make, or use, insulin well.  You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood.  However, this type of diabetes occurs most often in the 40 to 60-year-old age group and older people.  Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 85 percent of the total number of people with diabetes.

Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant.  Most of the time, this type of diabetes stops after the baby is born.  However, if you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.  Sometimes diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is actually type 2 diabetes.  If you have gestational diabetes in one pregnancy, it will most likely occur in subsequent pregnancies, often starting a bit earlier each time.  There are a few other less common types of diabetes too.

The good news is that research has shown that you can do a lot to reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes!  Here are some things you can change to lower your risk:

• Lose weight and keep it off: You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing weight – aim for five to seven percent of your starting weight to start with, especially if your weight is more around your abdomen. For instance, if you weigh 90kg, your goal would be to lose about 5kg.
• Get physically active. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. If you have not been active, start slowly to build up to your goal. Even walking  can make a significant impact on lessening your risk.
• Eat mindfully most of the time… less carbohydrates and more vegetables. Eat smaller portions than you are used to eating each day and choose less fat. Drink water instead of sweetened beverages and carbonated drinks. Reduce alcohol to no more than seven to10 units per week. This would be best discussed personally with a dietician.
• Check with your healthcare practitioner what other changes you can make to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes…. like seeing if your blood pressure and cholesterol are at target as these can influence your glucose levels too.
• Most often, your best chance for preventing type 2 diabetes is to make lifestyle changes that work for you long-term.

Signs to watch out for if you have not been diagnosed as a diabetic but suspect that you may have diabetes: 

• Change in weight
• Increase in thirst
• Passing urine more than you are used to especially at night
• Blurred vision
• Any of these, combined with a strong family history of diabetes.

You need only pop into your nearest pharmacy, healthcare professionals practice or a clinic for a finger prick blood tests to know for sure… if you have a risk of pre-diabetes or have diabetes.

For diabetic patients it’s imperative to know your numbers:

• Take control of your diabetes by actively taking part in your management decisions.
• Knowing your numbers is one step closer to you optimising your control of risk factors and preventing long term complications.
• Key numbers to monitor at every session with your treating healthcare provider, whether it’s your GP, specialist or diabetes nurse educator are the following:
• Blood pressure in the optimal range according to your risk profile
• HbA1c (this is your three month glucose average)
• Total cholesterol
• LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol
• HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol
• Triglyceride level
• Urine microalbumin (protein in the urine which is an early marker of diabetic kidney disease)
• Kidney function

Key take home messages to remember:

1)         OPTIMAL glucose control is key to avoiding long term complications

2)         Manage your condition so that you DON’T develop complications as they CANNOT be reversed

The Umhlanga Diabetes, Endocrine and Cardiac Care centre comprises a multi-disciplinary team of specialists including diabetologists, cardiologists, ophthalmologists, nephrologists, neurologists, urologists, vascular surgeons as well as allied healthcare providers including diabetes nurse, educators, podiatrists and dieticians working together to provide optimal and holistic care to all diabetic patients.

For more information, contact 031 560 5500 or www.netcare.co.za