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LIONS
DIABETES AWARENESS
 Dear
Fellow Lions,
Definition
: Diabetes is a condition when persons have elevated blood glucose (sugar)
levels (over 7.8mm/l).
So what is
the big deal? A Diabetic person looks from the outside as healthy as you and I
do. But they are not !!
Persons
with high sugar readings (over 11) literally do not have blood flowing through
their blood vessels, but have syrup being forced through the arteries, veins and
capillaries of the body. This extra pressure needed to circulate the blood
causes massive damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, fingers
and toes and would result in possible blindness, renal failure or gangrene and
then amputation of the limbs.
Types of
Diabetes : Type 1 or Juvenile Onset Diabetes
Type 2 or Adult Onset Diabetes
Differences
between the two :
Type 1
Diabetes : - Auto-Immune destruction of the Beta Cells (insulin producing) in
the pancreas.
- Onset
usually at an early age.
- Patient
will be insulin dependent for the rest of their lives.
-
Accounts for less than 10% of all Diabetics.
Type 2
Diabetes : - Accounts for over 90% of Diabetics.
-
Initially can be treated by tablets alone.
- Is a
lifestyle disease (overweight, Lack of exercise etc.)
- Is a
preventable disease.
- Is
caused by insulin resistance and later Beta cell dysfunction.
- More
than 30% type diabetics remain undetected for their life time hence the
importance of screening.
Complications of Diabetes include hypertension (high blood pressure) and
hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with increased risk of a stroke or
heart-attack. Further complications include retinopathy, kidney failure and
amputation of the limbs due to poor circulation.
Your involvement with the Diabetes Awareness Program can help children and
adults in your community to learn more about Diabetes and how they can prevent
some of the serious problems that diabetes can cause, including diabetic
retinopathy.
Yours in Lions,
Peter Daniel.
peterdaniel@mweb.co.za
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