Once again it’s 14th November and World Diabetes Day is here with us. If you already have diabetes I will not sugarcoat your options but though we all agree that diabetes has the ability to virtually cripple every part of one’s body, we all have the capacity to keep at bay the devastation that this notorious disease can cause by religiously following the required healthy living starting at breakfast.

If you do not have diabetes then it may be worth your while to flee from this complex disease; exercise regularly, eat appropriately and get regular medical tests and examinations. Few disease states cause panic among people like diabetes does. Many healthcare professionals have witnessed newly diagnosed diabetics swear the results suggesting they are diabetic was a mix up. People who have never seen the inside of any building for worshipping the Almighty will begin to call on God for a miraculous-healing. Oh! Many will even invoke curses on you for daring to uncover a condition that was minding its own business.

Diabetes causes so much panic because most people have seen at least one person in their life who has been battling with diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in Sub Saharan Africa about 8% of the population above 25years have diabetes. When you take into consideration that even in countries with sophisticated medical services and access to information, there may be one other person with diabetes for everyone diagnosed with the condition.

Diabetes “never walks alone” it makes sure it ropes in many more to make the takeover of one’s body complete. The following are a few of the favourite bedfellows of diabetes:

1. HYPOGLYCAEMIA
a. Blood sugar may drop to dangerously low levels that may cause death if intervention is delayed
b. Overdose of medication, poor choice of medication, poor eating habits, “exercise overdose” and even some tumors in the pancreas may cause this condition.

2. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
a. Diabetes and Hypertension have a way of often turning up together. After all they are both life-style diseases and hence may have similar conditions that when we do not indulge in, both conditions will earn a call-up.
b. Quite often someone with diabetes may over time have high blood pressure or may be taking medication to keep their blood pressure in check.

3. ABNORMAL CHOLESTEROL LEVEL
a. Another silent partner to diabetes that may be causing havoc.
b. Many people with diabetes either have abnormally high cholesterol levels or require medication to keep the levels in check.
c. Some doctors even keep their patients with diabetes on cholesterol reducing (statin) medication even if their cholesterol level is normal.

4. CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DEATH RATES
a. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) refers to heart and blood vessel disease.
b. Even in countries with advanced medical care CVD death rates is 1.7 times higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics.

5. HEART ATTACK RATES
a. The rates in this instance is 1.8 times higher in diabetics than in those without.
6. STROKE
a. The chance of someone with diabetes getting a stroke is 1.5 times higher than those for one without the disease.
b. Imagine that high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and diabetes all have a potential to cause a stroke.
7. BLINDNESS & EYE PROBLEMS
a. In diabetes there is damage to the small blood vessels in the retina that may result in loss of vision.

8. KIDNEY DISEASE
a. Diabetes is a primary cause of kidney failure. It may also lead to one using dialysis chronically and in some countries diabetes may cause so much devastation leading to kidney transplant.

9. AMPUTATION
a. This is very common especially in the foot and leg.
I am certain that in addition to educating others about Diabetes, we will adopt the appropriate healthy living to avoid the condition. In the case of diabetics KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. You have the power to adopt a healthy lifestyle together with regular medical assessments to avoid complications. It’s time to TACKLE DIABETES HEAD-ON AND it starts at breakfast.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Moms’ Health Club/Health Essentials
(www.healthclubsgh.com)

Dr Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy and fitness nutrition.
Thought for the week – “Laughter is the best medicine unless you are diabetic, then insulin is probably better.”
Reference:
1. www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics
2. Quotes from HEALTHLINE