Page 26 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 1_2024

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UNDERSTAND THE SYMPTOMS and even cause blindness. not a failure if you need insulin treatment
Sometimes people overlook the warning • Poorly controlled blood glucose and as diabetes is a progressive disease,
signs of diabetes because they do not high blood pressure can lead to so in most cases all diabetics will
experience symptoms, or the symptoms damage of the nerves throughout eventually need insulin. Good control of
seem harmless. Talk with a health care the body (neuropathy). This damage blood sugar levels is the ultimate goal,
provider if you have noticed: can lead to problems with digestion, and effective insulin treatment will help
• unusual weight loss, urination, erectile dysfunction in men prevent other serious issues like heart
• frequent urination, and other complications. Among the disease, stroke, nerve damage, organ
• tingling or numbness in your hands or most commonly affected areas are damage, eye problems or, in rare cases,
feet, the extremities, in particular the feet, premature death.
• a persistent feeling of hunger or thirst, where nerve damage can lead to pain,
• drowsiness, nausea or blurred vision. tingling, and loss of feeling. Loss of Insulin is a hormone that’s made by the
*Note: These symptoms can also be feeling is particularly important because pancreas and its purpose is to help the
related other health issues, and not only it can allow injuries to go unnoticed, body move glucose into cells for energy.
diabetes. leading to serious infections and When your pancreas can’t produce
possible amputations. enough insulin or fails to function
MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES IS • Kidney disease (nephropathy) is far properly, blood sugar (glucose) levels
CRUCIAL FOR YOUR FUTURE more common in people with diabetes can rise — leading to diabetes. If you
HEALTH – it is a leading cause of chronic kidney are diagnosed with diabetes, you may
“If diabetes is diagnosed – whether Type disease. need insulin treatment to help control
1 or Type 2 - it’s very important to manage • People living with diabetes have a your blood sugar level³.
your blood sugar levels according to much higher risk of cardiovascular
the guidelines provided by your doctor disease – angina, heart attack, KNOW YOUR BODY
or healthcare provider. The huge stroke, peripheral artery disease, and Everyone reacts differently to low blood
emphasis on strict control and disease congestive heart failure. sugar (hypoglycaemia), so it is important
management if you’re living with diabetes • Diabetes can cause complications and to understand and recognise your own
is with very good reason. Diabetes is an health problems that worsen symptoms symptoms. Some of the visible signs
exceptionally challenging disease to live of depression, leading to poor lifestyle and feelings could include shakiness,
with and manage, requiring the support decisions, such as unhealthy eating, anxiety, rapid pulse, irritability, tingling
of specialist doctors, and a huge amount less exercise, smoking and weight gain. fingers or lips, headache, sweating,
of discipline on the part of the patient in blurred vision, hunger, dizziness and
managing the demanding diet, lifestyle How well you manage your diabetes fatigue or weakness. It is important to
and treatment regimen,” explains Dr today, will influence the quality of life discuss low sugar events and treatment
Molefe-Osman. you can expect to live later in life. actions with your doctor.
There are a number of health challenges INSULIN TREATMENT IS NOT THE The Rule of 15
that come with living with diabetes, ENEMY – POOR SUGAR CONTROL IS There are five important steps to treat
including²: Many patients are overwhelmed by the low blood sugar:
• Diabetes can lead to eye disease prospect of having to go onto insulin Step 1 If your blood sugar is less than
(retinopathy), which can damage vision treatment. It is important to know that it is 70mg/dL take 15 grams of glucose or

26 DPL issue 1 2024