Diabetes can be managed, just listen to your doctor
HISTORICALLY, diabetes was believed to be a familial disease, which meant if there was a history of diabetes in one of the parent’s families, the possibility of one or more children developing diabetes at some point in their lives could not be excluded.
But it seems this has changed, because when I was diagnosed with diabetes in May 1997, both my parents’ families had no history of diabetes.
It is now more than 20 years since I have been on diabetic treatment, and I have never even once been hospitalised for diabetes, which is wonderful.
The most important thing is to avoid sweet things, but that is where the problem lies. Some diabetic patients will eat cakes or scones and wonder why I would, at a party, take only one and refuse to have more.
When I explained why, one patient told me she was also diabetic but on insulin and that an injection of insulin would take care of the problem; very wrong, you don’t do that. It is important to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water.
The only complication I developed after many years is glaucoma of the left eye, for which I am on eye drops twice a day.
To prevent complications such as gangrene, which might lead to amputation of the leg, the patient must prevent any injury to the feet.
The most dangerous complication is kidney failure, which can be detected by swollen legs. Regular check-ups are very important for early detection of complications and proper treatment.
Keeping healthy with exercise, diabetes is not so difficult to control. You just have to listen to your doctor. COMETH DUBE-MAKHOLWA | Midrand