The silent killer that is diabetes: Part 2 by: Mohamed Mohamoud Hiirad
Overview:
Although I have discussed some facts and history of this disease in part 1 for the previous weeks, also in this part two I would like to start with some background and statistics globally.
The last five (5) years globally over 90 million people had diabetes (Dr Mercola, 2012 ), one out of every two people with diabetes don’t know they have the condition, life style choices are the best strategies to controlling your blood sugar, reducing your risk of diabetes and preventing secondary health problems from the condition.
Most causes of diabetes
Treatment options:
Chronically high blood sugar from poor nutrition and exercises choices may trigger long term damage to your body, this damage may even result in death however, There is no known cure for diabetes; a person with diabetes will rely on constant treatment but Only to reduce chances of opportunistic diseases from attacking such a patient
Since treatment modalities keep on changing depending on the stage of the disease, management of diabetes hinges on five factors, which include:
- Dietary modification
- Physical exercise
- Continued Health education
- Drugs and self monitoring of blood sugar
All the above will help diabetic person to reduce on the risk of death.
Management of diabetes does not hinge on sugar control alone but also aspects of controlling high blood pressure and blood fats, in fact these two the high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol are the major causes of complications and death in the people with diabetes.
So that doctors recommending every diabetes person should have comprehensive care entailing regular blood pressure check and checking glycosylated hemoglobin every three or six months.
How to care for people with diabetes:
- Make a self check up at least every day to know your status of the level of blood sugar
- Check for any blisters, cuts, sores, redness or swelling
- Do not use for pocketknives or razor blades to cut the nails. Instead shape them with an emery board
- Examine your shoes every day for cracks, pebbles, nails or anything that could hurt your feet.
Best foods for diabetic people:
Note: everybody of us weather diabetic or not should eat food regularly
- Healthy fats from raw nuts, olive oils, fish oils, flax seeds, whole milk dairy and avocados
- Fruits and vegetables – ideally fresh and more colorful the better whole fruit rather than juices
- High-fiber cereals and bread made from whole grains \or legumes
- High- quality protein such as eggs, beans milk, cheese and un sweetened yoghurt
Eat less food for diabetes people:
- Packages and fast foods, especially those in high in sugar, baked goods, sweets, chips, desserts
- Processed meat and red meat from animals fed with antibiotics growth hormones
- Law fat products that have replaced fat with added sugar such as fat free yoghurt
Conclusion:
As a public health specialist I have sacrifices to share my knowledge and experience of health matters to my community and health education seekers, and this aim come through giving you this article of diabetes to ensure you learn and able to prevent the diabetes and minimize complications and also maximize quality of life for all people with diabetes.
Through health education and promotion and awareness raising on diabetes thanks indeed for reading, and thanks indeed for reading this valuable article.
References.
- World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on diabetes prevention and control
- Dr Caldwell B Essaly Jr, Prevent and revise the diabetes (2011 )
- American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2016
By: Mr. Mohamed Mohamoud Hiirad (BCS, BsPH, MPH)
MPH, Bugema University, Uganda
About The Author
