Many persons inAnguillahave diabetes mellitus (locally known as sugar in the blood) and unfortunately many of them do not know they have this disorder. In the early forms of the disease, signs and symptoms might be absence or few. Having a blood test can accurately tell if you are suffering from diabetes mellitus.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes inAnguilla.
It strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle. This chronic condition thwarts the body’s ability to use the carbohydrates in food for energy. The result is elevated blood sugar. Over time, this excess sugar raises the risk for heart disease, loss of vision, nerve and organ damage, and other serious conditions.
Warning signs of type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes frequently have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, one of the first may be an increase in thirst. This is often accompanied by additional problems, including dry mouth, increased appetite, frequent urination — sometimes as often as every hour — and unusual weight loss or gain.
Headaches – As blood sugar levels become more abnormal, additional symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.
Infections – One sign that might indicate diabetes mellitus is troubling infections. These might occur in several ways that include the following:
• Cuts or sores that are slow to heal
• Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections
• Itchy skin, especially in the groin area
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is common among people with diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels and nerve endings in the genitals, leading to a loss of feeling and making orgasm difficult. Other complications can include vaginal dryness and impotence in men. It’s estimated that between 35% and 70% of men with diabetes will have at least some degree of impotence in their lifetime. And about 1 in 3 women with diabetes will experience some form of sexual dysfunction.
Risk factors for diabetes
Diabetes can affect anyone, but there are some factors that increase your chances of developing diabetes.These include:
• Being overweight, especially at the waist
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• A diet high in red meat, processed meat, high-fat dairy products, and sweets
• Abnormal cholesterol and blood fats
• Family history of diabetes. Having a parent or sibling with diabetes markedly increases your risk
In addition to the above, women have other risk factors which include:
• Gestational diabetes during pregnancy
• Giving birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
• Having a history of polycystic ovary syndrome
How do you know for sure if you have diabetes?
If you have signs and symptoms suggesting that you might have diabetes mellitus, please see a qualified medical doctor for a medical examination and investigations.
A simple blood test can diagnose diabetes. The A1C test gives a snapshot of your average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher may indicate diabetes. Afasting plasma glucose or random blood glucosecan also help to diagnose diabetes. So too can an oral glucose challenge test with a two-hour blood test. Your doctor might arrange other tests to determine if you have complications associated with diabetes.
Diet and diabetes
What you eat plays a great role in managing diabetes. Many individuals with diabetes can have their blood sugar adequately controlled by diet and exercise alone.
Controlling blood sugar levels by changing diet can also cut your risk of complications. People with type 2 diabetes should carefully monitor carbohydrate consumption, as well as total fat and protein intake, and reduce calories. If you are having difficulty with your eating habits ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist who will be able to help you.
Exercise and diabetes
Routine exercise, such as strength training or walking, improves the body’s use of insulin and can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Being active also helps reduce body fat, lower blood pressure, and protect against heart disease. People with type 2 diabetes should try to get 20 – 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.
Stress and diabetes
It has been shown by many clinical studies that stress can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels. All of us experience some stress during our lives but it is important to know how to deal with stress when it occurs. There are a number of ways to deal with prolonged and increased stress levels. Some include relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or visualization. Talking to a friend, family member, counselor, or member of the clergy can help. If these do not work, talk to your doctor or health care provider. You might also need to be referred to a professional specializing in stress management.
Oral Medication
When people with type 2 diabetes are unable to control blood sugar sufficiently with diet and exercise, medication may be added. There are many types of diabetes pills available, and they are often used in combination. Some work by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin, and others improve the effectiveness of insulin, or block the digestion of starches. These mediations must be prescribed by a qualified doctor and you must take these tablets as prescribed.
Insulin
Your doctor may prescribe insulin in your treatment and in combination with pills.You can be taught how to give yourself insulin, but some individuals will require a health professional to give them insulin.
Glucose Testing
All individuals with diabetes require testing of their glucose levels at various times. Testing your blood glucose level will let you know how controlled your blood sugars are and if you need to take actions to change your treatment plan. How often and when you test will be based on how controlled your diabetes is, the type of therapy used to control your diabetes, and whether you are experiencing symptoms of fluctuating sugars. Talk with your doctor to find out how often you should use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar. Some common testing times may be when waking up, before and after meals and exercise, and at bedtime.
Complications of diabetes
Uncontrolled blood sugars over a prolonged period of time can lead to some serious and life-threatening complications. It is important that all individuals with diabetes achieve good control of their blood sugars to help prevent complications.
Over time, untreated type 2 diabetes can damage many of the body’s systems:
The heart: About two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease. Having diabetes also puts you at a two to four times higher risk for stroke. People with diabetes are likely to develop plaque in their arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing risk of clots. This hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Kidneys: The longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure inAnguilla. Controlling risk factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol reduces your risk of developing this complication. Annual screening for kidney disease, and medications which slow the development and progression of kidney disease, are used to reduce your risk of kidney failure.
Eyes: High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the retina, a critical part of the eye. This is known as diabetic retinopathy, and it can cause progressive, irreversible vision loss. It is a leading cause of new cases of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 74.
Nerves: Over time, uncontrolled diabetes and elevated blood sugars create a very real risk for nerve damage. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, pain, and a pins and needles sensation — often in the fingers, hands, toes, or feet. The damage is not reversible, but treatments can help with the pain and numbness. And controlling your diabetes can help prevent further damage.
Feet: Diabetic nerve damage can make it difficult to feel your feet and detect injury. At the same time, hardening of the arteries results in poor blood flow to the feet. Foot sores and gangrene can occur, even from small injury. In severe cases, infections can go unchecked and result in an amputation.
Conclusion
Diabetes mellitus affects many residents ofAnguillaand the number of new cases keep increasing every year. Many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented.You can decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus if you eat a healthy diet, exercise moderately for 20 to 30 minutes on most days of the week, maintain a healthy weight and have frequent medical check-ups. If you have signs or symptoms suggestive of diabetes mellitus talk to you doctor about them.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over twenty eight years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in theJohnsonBuildingin The Valley.
