14 November was World Diabetes Day and medical educator Ona van der Merwe explained that diabetes is a serious disease that affects 382 million people across the world.
“At this rate, the figure is likely to end up at 596 million in 2035, this means every 10 seconds three people will discover that they have diabetes.”
She added, “The sad thing is that every six seconds, one person dies of the disease. That means 5.1 million people per year pass away because of diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.”
Van der Merwe added that Type 1 diabetes is characterised by absent insulin production and requires the daily administration of insulin. The cause of type 1 diabetes is not known and it is not preventable with current knowledge. “Type 2 results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes comprises 90 per cent of people with diabetes around the world and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. Symptoms may be similar to those of Type 1 diabetes, but are often less marked. As a result, the disease may be diagnosed several years after onset, once complications have already arisen.”
But what can we do to lower the chance of getting diabetes?
According to Van der Merwe, “30 minutes of exercises like jogging, cycling or swimming can reduce your chances of developing diabetes by 40 per cent.”
She added that other lifestyle changes like a healthy diet is also necessary.
“If you experience any symptoms like frequent urination, thirst, hunger, dry skin or nausea, then you should make an appointment with your doctor to test your sugar levels,” concluded Van der Merwe.
