KWALI HEALTH TIPS

31 Aug,2022

: Kwali Health Tips

KWALI HEALTH TIPS - Managing Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus commonly known as diabetes, is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Wikipedia defines it as a group of metabolic disorders characterised by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time.

If left untreated, diabetes can cause many health complications. Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones); hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, (characterised by severe hyperglycemia, extreme dehydration, and altered consciousness) or death. Serious long-term complications include heart diseases, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, damage to the nerves, damage to the eyes and nerve damage.

In this blog our Kwali4u team shares with you the different types of diabetes and some useful informational tips on the causes, and symptoms of diabetes plus recommended lifestyle changes. If you have been having questions about diabetes, this blog is for you.

Diabetes occurs due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone in the body that controls the amount of sugar in the blood. The classic symptoms of untreated diabetes are unintended weight loss, increased urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in type 1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in type 2 diabetes.

The most common types for diabetes mellitus are type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, pre diabetes and gestational diabetes. Below are brief explanations of each type:

Type 2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease progresses, a lack of insulin may also develop. Type 2 diabetes is more common in older adults, but a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity among children has led to more cases of type 2 diabetes in younger people. The most common cause is a combination of excessive body weight and insufficient exercise.
Type 1 diabetes results from failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin due to loss of beta cells. The loss of beta cells is caused by an autoimmune response. The cause of this autoimmune response is unknown. Although Type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can also develop in adults.
Prediabetes means that your blood sugars are higher than usual, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It also means that you are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You are unlikely to be experiencing any symptoms with prediabetes with this condition. Prediabetes is also sometimes called borderline diabetes.
Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels. In women with gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery. However, women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

You need to see your doctor and get your blood sugar tested if you urinate (pee) a lot, often at night; are very thirsty; lose weight without trying; are very hungry; have blurry vision; have numb or tingling hands or feet; feel very tired; have very dry skin; have sores that heal slowly and have more infections than usual

Symptoms for type 1 diabetes often start suddenly and are often the reason for checking blood sugar levels. Because symptoms of other types of diabetes and prediabetes come on more gradually or may not be easy to see, the following are screening guidelines:

Anyone with a body mass index higher than 25 (23 for Asian Americans), regardless of age, who has additional risk factors. These factors include high blood pressure, non-typical cholesterol levels, an inactive lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome or heart disease, and having a close relative with diabetes.
Anyone older than age 35 is advised to get an initial blood sugar screening. If the results are normal, they should be screened every three years after that.
Women who have had gestational diabetes are advised to be screened for diabetes every three years.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with prediabetes is advised to be tested every year.
Anyone who has HIV is advised to be tested.

If you are an existing patient, ensure to visit your GP to monitor disease progression every three to six month depending on your condition. Your kidney function should be assessed every six to twelve months through both blood and urine tests. You should also get an annual eye and vision test. It is also recommended to visit a dietician at least once a year.

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, monitor the following:

Your blood sugar through an HBA1C test
Protein in urine through a creatinine test
The amount of fat in blood through cholesterol tests

An important part of managing diabetes as well as your overall health is keeping a healthy weight through a healthy diet and exercise plan. Practices that can help manage diabetes include healthy eating, physical activity, monitoring your blood sugar as well as maintaining a routine take of oral and other drugs as prescribed by your doctor.

If you are a Kwali4u beneficiary or benefactor interested in visiting a GP for diabetes screening or want to pay an annual visit to a GP, you can find a Kwali Partner (Healthcare Services Provider) that’s closest to you here

To register as a Kwali4u Benefactor or Beneficiary click here

To Sign-up as a Kwali4u Partner click here

We summarised the main points in this blog on the image below, for your ease of reference.