In diabetes, the insulin produced. doesn’t work properly, so the blood sugar level Pregnancy a pregnant woman with diabetes. has an increased risk of …
SPC Factsheet no
3
Diabetes
D
iabetes often arises when there has been a change from a more traditional lifestyle towards a more western one In the Pacific, the last few decades have seen a big increase in the number of people with diabetes Diabetes is now one of the top five causes of death in more than half of the Pacific Island countries and territories
The blood transports this sugar to the muscles Muscles need sugar for energy
How does the body usually control the level of blood sugar?
When we eat foods containing sugars, the sugar is absorbed taken from the food into the body and goes into the blood Starchy foods have to be broken down reduced to small pieces in order to release sugar into the blood this takes time As sugar moves into the bloodstream, the level of sugar in the blood starts to rise As blood sugar rises, the pancreas an organ responds by releasing a hormone called insulin into the blood Insulin lowers blood sugar helping to keep levels correct Insulin is only released when blood sugar rises In diabetes, the insulin produced doesnt work properly, so the blood sugar level keeps on rising
Risk factors for diabetes
There are a number of risk factors that
have been identified: y Hereditary factors diabetes runs in families It is also more common in certain ethnic groups eg Pacific Islanders y Overweight obesity increases the risk of getting diabetes a lot, particularly if weight is gained rapidly y Age most cases of diabetes are found in people over 40 years of age y Pregnancy some women will develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy This will normally go away when the baby is born, but the woman will be more likely to develop diabetes later This problem is more common in women who are overweight
Design and layout : Muriel Borderie ; Illustrations: Jipé Lebars - Printed at SPC Noumea
Effects of diabetes
Many people with diabetes are not aware that they have this disease, as they feel fine In the short term often before diagnosis people may notice: excess thirst, needing to urinate a lot this is because some of the sugar in the blood is spilling over into the urine, feeling tired, blurred vision and sometimes weight loss Unfortunately the lack of symptoms is misleading, since the high blood sugar levels are damaging different parts of the body y Nerves the damage causes a loss of feeling This can mean people injure
themselves without knowing eg they may pick up a very hot
What is diabetes?
Diabetes also known as adult–onset diabetes, maturity–onset diabetes, or type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body can no longer control the level of sugar in the blood Type 2 is the most common type found in the Pacific Diabetes is usually diagnosed by testing the blood for sugar levels Urine tests are not very accurate Everyone has sugar glucose in his or her blood
1
Diabetes
object, feel no pain and so burn their skin y Eyes - vision becomes cloudy It can eventually cause eye disease and permanent blindness y Kidney the damage can lead, in the longterm, to kidney failure y Heart muscle the damage caused by the 
blood sugar leads to an increased risk of heart disease y Immunity resistance to infection is reduced The higher blood sugar levels also encourage more bacterial growth y Wound healing speed of recovery is slower y Pregnancy a pregnant woman with diabetes has an increased risk of developing problems during the pregnancy The baby is also at increased risk All of these complications develop when the blood sugar level is high If the level of blood sugar can be kept close to normal, very
little damage will occur to the body
SPC Factsheet no
Dietary change
3
Diet is very important in controlling diabetes Even those taking medication must be careful with their diet The right diet is important in two ways controlling blood sugar, and reducing the long-term risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease y Avoid eating sugar/sugary foods this includes hidden sugar such as is found in biscuits, cakes, candies, chocolates, and desserts A small amount is fine, occasionally y Eat regularly do not miss meals Aim to have three meals per day y Eat fewer fatty foods such as fried foods, canned meats, or butter y Use less salt, and eat fewer salty foods such as soy sauce, ramen, or salty snacks y Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of variety
Medications
The majority of people with diabetes will not need to take any drugs to help them to control their blood sugar level For those that do, the doctor may recommend tablets or, less often, insulin injections
Treatment of diabetes
There is no cure for diabetes Once somebody has become diabetic, they will be diabetic for life It can, however, be managed The blood sugar levels must be kept close to normal, using a
combination of diet, healthy lifestyle and medications For most people, a combination of good diet and healthy lifestyle can control their diabetes, and so help to prevent complications
Medical care
It is important to have blood sugar levels checked regularly to make sure that the amount of sugar in the blood is being controlled It is very difficult for anyone to tell what his or her blood sugar level is without a test Regular checks of eyes and feet for complications are also advisable A diabetes check-up once per year is recommended
Lifestyle
y Activity is extremely important regular exercise and activity can reduce blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure and help to control weight y Some alcohol is fine, but too much is a problem more than two measures per day Alcohol can also lead to weight gain y Weight loss losing just 10 per cent of body weight can help to control diabetes
Note: This summary refers to type 2 diabetes only There is another type of diabetes type 1, which appears in young children Its causes and treatment are different from those in type 2 diabetes, and it is rare in the Pacific
2
SPC 2002 Produced by: Lifestyle Health Section Secretariat of the
Pacific Community SPC BP D5 Noumea Cedex 98848 New Caledonia Tel: 687 262000 Fax: 687 263818 Website: http://wwwspcint/lifestyle/
Source:utahtelehealth.net
