Diabetes

LAST Tuesday, November 14 was World Diabetes Day.
Diabetes is a worldwide issue and Guyana is no exception.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) 2016 statistics reported that over 422 million people have diabetes worldwide. This is an increase from 382 million in 2013. I would like to spread awareness on not only diabetes itself, but also the way in how disorders such as this affect one’s general mental health and well-being.

Basically, diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Our blood sugar is one of the main sources of energy and mainly comes from the food we eat. Insulin (which is produced by our pancreas) is what extracts the glucose from food to be used for energy. Sometimes, our body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin that is produced is not strong enough to do the job which means the glucose cannot be properly used. When this happens, the individual would be diagnosed with diabetes.

There are three major types of diabetes.
Type One (1), occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin and therefore a diagnosis means the individual would have to take insulin daily. This has a sudden onset and is more common among children and young adults.
Type Two (2), occurs when the insulin being produced is not sufficient enough to do the job. This is more of a gradual onset, is more prevalent than Type One and occurs mostly in adults. Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy and is a development of high blood sugar levels. More often than not, this goes away after the baby is born but in some cases can develop into type 2 diabetes.

Overall, it seems that men and women are equally affected by the disorder.
All types of diabetes have similar symptoms which range from mild to severe. Mild cases include sweating, fatigue and increased appetite while more serious cases can include aggression, confusion, seizures, unconsciousness and even death.
While there is no cure for diabetes, prevention and maintenance of diabetes include prescription medication (in some cases), counselling as well as a special, individualistic diet created by your healthcare professional. Maintaining a healthy diet, as well as daily exercise, can reduce the likelihood of developing the disorder as well as lower symptoms, if there has already been a diagnosis.

People with diabetes may also suffer from a variety of other physical issues such as heart and kidney disease, stroke, nerve damage as well as issues with eyes, teeth and feet. Unfortunately, those with diabetes also subsequently suffer from a variety of mental health issues. Diabetes especially has been known to cause high levels of stress, anger, fear, disappointment and even denial all of which can lead to depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Research shows that someone with diabetes is twice as likely to develop any of the aforementioned.

Developing healthy coping skills is the best way to move forward in dealing with your diagnosis. Try things that help you relax such as deep breathing, yoga, music or simply going for a walk. Talk to people you are comfortable with about your diagnosis. It is okay to seek help.
Most importantly, remember to practice the basics – eat, sleep and exercise well!
Diabetes is a life-changing diagnosis, one which many people have a hard time accepting let alone managing. The management is mostly self-care due to the daily management. A diabetic is supported by many physical health care professionals but it is mostly up to the individual to ensure proper management and self-care. This makes it overwhelming for most people.

Are you not sure if you are likely to develop or may already have diabetes?
One is more likely to develop diabetes if they have a family history of the disease, are overweight, not physically active, over 45 years of age (referring to type 2), have high blood pressure or have a history of heart disease or strokes.
The classic symptoms of diabetes include dry mouth, increased hunger and thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, skin rashes, fatigue or a numbness in hands or feet. When one has diabetes, their body also takes a long time to recover from any injury or illness. If you are troubled by any of the above, please go to your nearest health centre to share these concerns.
If you are having a hard time dealing with your diagnosis, you are not alone – reach out to your nearest health care professional for additional options.

Thank you for reading and please send in any questions, comments or topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. Also please remember when you can come see me.
Georgetown Public Hospital: Monday- Friday – 8:00hrs- 12:00hrs
Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department
Drug and Alcohol group meetings – Mondays 16:00hrs
Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 16:00hrs
Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896
Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

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