Page 11 - IFV Issue 1_2024

Estate News

symptoms. Some of the visible signs and feelings could include
shakiness, anxiety, rapid pulse, irritability, tingling fingers or lips,
headache, sweating, blurred vision, hunger, dizziness and fatigue
or weakness. It is important to discuss low sugar events and
treatment actions with your doctor.

The Rule of 15
There are five important steps to treat low blood sugar:
Step 1 If your blood sugar is less than 70mg/dL take 15 grams of
glucose or simple carbs.
Step 2 Recheck your blood sugar after 15 minutes, if possible.
Step 3 If you still feel the symptoms of low blood sugar, repeat
step 1.
Step 4 Once you return to normal, eat a small snack, if your next
planned small meal or snack is more than an hour away.
Step 5 If you continue to experience signs of low blood sugar –
contact your doctor or emergency health services immediately.

15 grams of carbs = any of the following: in order to make healthy lifestyle choices and manage their
• 4 glucose tablets (follow package instructions). diabetes well.
• 1 gel tube (follow package instructions). • Healthy eating – There is no such thing as a ‘diabetic diet’, only
• 2 tablespoons of raisins or 1 tablespoon of honey or syrup. a healthy way of eating, which is recommended for everyone.
• ½ a cup of juice or non-diet soda or 1 cup of non-fat 1% milk. However, what, when and how much you eat plays an important
• 3 – 5 hardboiled sweets, jellybeans or gumdrops. role in regulating how well your body manages blood glucose
levels. It’s a good idea to visit a registered dietician who can help
TRACK YOUR SYMPTOMS you work out a meal plan that is suitable for your lifestyle.
When managing long-term health conditions, you may find it • Exercise – Regular exercise helps your body lower blood
helpful to keep track of any symptoms you experience such as glucose levels, promotes weight loss, reduces stress and
pain, fatigue, insomnia or nausea. What makes them worse? What enhances overall fitness.
makes them better? How do medications, foods, activities, people, • Weight management – Maintaining a healthy weight is
and stresses affect you? You can also keep track of numbers especially important in the control of Type 2 diabetes.
that affect your symptoms, like blood pressure or blood sugar • Medication – People with Type 1 diabetes require daily insulin
readings. Bring your logs to appointments and share them with injections to survive. There are various types of insulin available in
your healthcare provider and with your family. Consider asking South Africa. Type 2 diabetes is controlled through exercise and
your family for their thoughts about your log and what they have meal planning and may require diabetes tablets and\or insulin to
noticed about your symptoms. assist the body in making or using insulin more effectively. Talk
to your doctor about the best treatment option for you, as well
TAKE CARE as the all-important cost considerations of different treatments.
Above all be healthy, active and look after your heart. It doesn’t • Lifestyle management – Learning to reduce stress levels in
have to be a complicated routine. Even a small increase in daily daily living can help people manage their blood glucose levels.
physical activity can make a big difference. While some risk Smoking is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes.
factors for diabetes such as age, ethnicity and family history “Your doctor is your best resource for information about living
can’t be changed, many other risk factors such as managing your with diabetes. However, while your healthcare team will advise
weight, eating healthy foods in the right quantities and exercising and support you, how well your diabetes is managed depends on
regularly can be managed. you. Use the resources available to empower yourself to improve
According to Diabetes South Africa there are various aspects to your metabolic control, increase fitness levels and manage weight
good diabetes management including: loss and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, which in turn will
• Education – Knowing about diabetes is an essential first step. improve your sense of well-being and quality of life,” concludes Dr
All people with diabetes need to understand their condition Molefe-Osman.

REFERENCES
1. https://www.idf.org/our-network/regions-members/africa/members/25-south-africa; 2. https://www.idf.org/about-diabetes/what-is-diabetes.html; 3. https://www.lillydiabetes.co.za/en/site/
why-insulin/what-is-insulin.html; 4. https://www.lillydiabetes.co.za/en/site/why-insulin/myths-facts.html; 5. https://www.lillydiabetes.co.za/en/site/hypoglycemia/how-to-identify-hypoglycemia.
html; 6. https://www.lillydiabetes.co.za/en/site/hypoglycemia/how-to-treat-hypoglycemia.html; 7. http://www.diabetessa.org.za/are-you-at-risk/

The Villager • Issue 1 2024 • 9