World Diabetes Day: Raising awareness and bridging gaps in care

Duduza – Diabetes remains one of the fastest-growing global public health issues, affecting many people worldwide and causing annual deaths.

With World Diabetes Day on November 14, organisations are urged to support diabetes prevention and management strategies.

This year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps’, highlights the need for equitable, comprehensive and affordable diabetes care.

Ntokozo Pule, a professional nurse at a local clinic, said it is important for organisations to understand the unique challenges that people with diabetes face.

She defined diabetes as a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose (sugar level) in the blood.

“By recognising the needs required by people with diabetes, families can provide support and resources to help their family members manage their condition effectively.

“This may motivate them to maintain their health and productivity. With thoughtful planning and the right resources, organisations can also help individuals navigate the complexities of diabetes, fostering a supportive and inclusive system and lifestyle,” she said.

She added people with diabetes face a double burden: a higher risk of life-threatening conditions like a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and cataracts, compounded by the psychological toll of diabetes distress.

“Individuals with diabetes are two to three times more likely to experience depression compared to those without the condition. These challenges can significantly impact an individual’s well-being, leading to increased absenteeism from work, reduced productivity, and higher healthcare costs,” she added.

She mentioned raising awareness about diabetes symptoms can prompt people to get screened, enabling early detection and intervention to prevent or delay its onset.

“This proactive approach can prevent undiagnosed diabetes from causing severe health complications, affecting various organ systems, including eye damage, heart and kidney disease, hypertension, nerve damage and poor wound healing.

“By prioritising health awareness, organisations and individuals can enhance productivity and foster a more engaged and resilient lifestyle. This approach also promotes a positive and supportive overall individual wellbeing.”

Pule shared some symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes:

• Feeling more thirsty than usual, feeling tired and weak.
• Urinating often, losing weight without trying.
• Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
• Presence of ketones in the urine
• Feeling irritable or having other mood changes
• Having a blurry vision and or slow-healing sores.

Type 2 features may be similar to type 1 and normally affect overweight or obese individuals. There are often mild non-specific symptoms.

“Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly while many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms,” she added.

Pule added patients, whether obese, normal weight or underweight must receive dietary advice, a diet sheet and saccharin.

• Check at every visit if they followed the diet
• Stress the importance of diet at each visit
• Encourage the patients to continue with their diet even if control of the illness is not achieved with diet alone.

She added the following as dietary recommendations:

• Eat half of your normal helpings if overweight
• Eat small, frequent regular meals
• Eat at least three meals a day
• Use very little salt in your food
• Reduce fats and oil – grill and boil food.
• Drink lots of water, use fat-free dairy products and margarine.
• Avoid sugar and foods containing sugar.

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