Get your blood and glucose levels tested with MMSA
Written by Gabriel Grixti and Daniel Zammit Lupi from MMSA
As MMSA, this year we are re-introducing the ‘Diabetes Awareness Campaign’ in the hopes of reaching out to the public about this extremely prevalent disease. It is estimated that 422 million people have the condition worldwide, and this number is expected to rise further within the next decade. We believe that people should be made more aware of this disease which affects quite a large percentage of our population.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the blood glucose level (or blood sugar) is too high. Glucose is the main source of energy for our cells and it comes from the food that we eat. Insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas, aids the uptake of glucose so that it may be transformed into energy. Sometimes the body does not produce enough insulin or loses its ability to use it. When this happens, glucose remains in the blood leading to a high blood glucose level.
The main types of diabetes are: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is a chronic condition which occurs when the body does not make insulin. This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, as the immune system attacks and destroys the cells in your pancreas (beta cells) that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to control their blood glucose.
In Type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin to cope with the body’s demands or it loses its sensitivity to use insulin. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, however, it more commonly develops in middle-aged and older people. This is the most common type of diabetes. People having this type of diabetes are able to somewhat better control their blood glucose levels when compared to type 1 diabetes who need to take daily insulin.
Gestational diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy. Typically, this type of diabetes goes away after the mother gives birth. However, if you have had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life. Any woman can develop this during pregnancy, but women with the following risk factors are predisposed: BMI above 30, previously having a baby who weighed 4.5kg or more at birth, or having an immediate family member diagnosed with diabetes, amongst others.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes and the presentation is not always the same. Certain symptoms only occur in either men or women. In addition to this, they also differ in people having type-1 or type-2 diabetes. However, there are some general symptoms common to all. These general symptoms include increased hunger and thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, blurry vision and sores that do not heal. Men who have diabetes could also exhibit the following symptoms: decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction and loss of strength. Diabetic women are more prone to urinary tract infections, yeast infections and dry skin.
What are the complications of diabetes?
High blood sugar damages organs and tissues all over the body. The higher your blood sugar is and the longer you live with it, the greater the risk of complications. Complications associated with diabetes include: heart disease, heart attack and stroke, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), eye damage (retinopathy), vision loss, hearing loss, foot damage, ulceration which may lead to amputation and depression. People with type 2 diabetes also have an increased risk of dementia (Alzheimer’s). In gestational diabetes, complications include pre-eclampsia and also a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.
Preventing Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes unfortunately could not do anything to prevent them from getting the chronic disease. However, type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of the disease, can be prevented. One can take the following measures to prevent developing this form of diabetes.
- Reducing sugar and refined carbs from your diet
- Keeping active
- Drinking water as the primary beverage
- Maintaining a healthy weight Being overweight enhances your chances of developing type 2 diabetes 7-fold
- Quitting smoking Smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when compared to non-smokers. Smoking can also make managing the disease difficult because high levels of nicotine can lessen the effectiveness of insulin causing smokers to need more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have found insulin to become more effective at lowering blood glucose levels just 8 weeks after quitting smoking
- Following a very-low-carb diet
- Reducing stress Stress hormones raise blood pressure and heart rate causing blood glucose levels to rise. Stress can lead to excessive smoking and eating which increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to serious medical complications but the condition can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes. One of the most important notions in medicine is understanding that PREVENTION is BETTER than cure, therefore by focusing on PREVENTION and adapting the appropriate lifestyle changes one can avoid developing the complications and struggles that arise from this disease.
Diabetes awareness campaign on Quad
On Wednesday 24th November from 12pm to 2pm, the Public Health team within MMSA will be organising health checks as part of the ‘Diabetes Awareness Campaign’ on quadrangle for University students and staff to get their blood glucose and blood pressure checked. We hope to see you there!
References
- Diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose concentration, and risk of vascular disease: a collaborative meta-analysis of 102 prospective studies. Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration
- Diabetes. Who.int. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes.
- What is Diabetes?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html.
- Diabetes Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Retrieved 31 October 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html.
- Asif M. (2014). The prevention and control the type-2 diabetes by changing lifestyle and dietary pattern. Journal of education and health promotion, 3, 1. https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9531.127541
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