Raising awareness for World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day was on November 14 and TELL would like to raise awareness around this “invisible illness’ that affects many South Africans. A pancreas transplant can be done to treat type 1 diabetes but it is reserved as a last resort for those with serious complications of diabetes because the side effects of a transplant can be significant. In some cases a pancreas transplant is done in conjunction with a kidney transplant in people whose kidneys have been damaged by diabetes.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are chronic diseases that affect the way your pancreas regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Both types of diabetes can lead to chronically high blood sugar levels which increases the risk of diabetes complications.
People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin.
People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance which means their bodies don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later on they don’t make enough insulin.
In South Africa there is a growing number of people with type 2 diabetes and this is driven by a combination of socioeconomic, demographic, environmental and genetic factors. Insufficient physical exercise leading to an increased level of obesity is also to blame. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle which includes a balanced diet and a basic understanding of how different food groups affect our glucose levels. Early diagnosis and access to healthcare for all types of diabetes could prevent or reduce serious diabetes complications. Diabetes places a huge burden on the South African health system where diabetes causes about 8000 new cases of blindness and 2000 new cases of amputations annually.
Fawn Rogers, Marketing Director of TELL, developed Type 1 diabetes as a result of her genetic disease, Cystic Fibrosis. She started injecting herself with insulin at the age of 16 and her diabetes has become progressively worse through the years. After having a double lung transplant in 2013, Fawn was put onto a new regime of daily medications, including cortisone, which has aggravated her diabetes status further.
She now uses a device called Dexcom which consists of a small needle that is inserted every 10 days and stays in her arm to monitor her glucose levels at all times. The Dexcom sends the readings of her glucose levels to her phone via bluetooth which allows Fawn to better control her diabetes.
It’s thanks to these advancements in diabetes treatments that allow patients like Fawn to manage her diabetes more efficiently. However, awareness of this disease is critical as not everyone can afford these treatments and SA now has the highest proportion of adult diabetics in Africa, and the highest number of deaths.
TELL is available to answer any question, please contact Stella on stella.dekock@tell.org.za or 0827852530, or find us on social media:
Instagram: @tellorgza
Facebook: www.facebook. com/tellorgza/
Twitter: @tellorgza
Website: www.tell.org.za