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Plagued With Diabetes In The Bahamas
Related to country: Bahamas

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Plagued with sugar:
By Kermit B. Fernander -
Nassau, Bahamas:



When Mrs. Smith says she "has sugar", she means she has diabetes. But, to be honest, the Bahamian expression "having sugar" is misleading for the simple reason that sugar in the blood (also called blood sugar or blood glucose) is a vital component of blood, and without it we cannot live. When there are excessive amounts of sugar in the blood, this condition is known as diabetes.

At the moment, far too many Bahamians have been diagnosed with diabetes, and this is of great concern to our local health authorities. Recently, Minister of Health and Social Development, Dr. Hubert Minnis, warned the public — yet again — about the escalating threat of diabetes and other chronic, non-communicable diseases. Labeling diabetes a chronic, debilitating and costly disease with severe complications, Dr. Minnis said: "In The Bahamas, it is estimated that approximately 10 percent of our population is living with diabetes, with the prevalence being higher in females than males."

He said Type 2 Diabetes, originally thought to affect mostly adults, is now affecting a growing number of obese children and adolescents owing to poor eating habits, unhealthy lifestyles and failure to exercise regularly.

More worrying still, Dr. Minnis said diabetes accounts for approximately five to10 percent of the nation's health budget, and is among the leading causes of hospitalization and death of all age groups affected.

Since many Bahamians do not understand why diabetes is so dangerous, it may be useful to review some of the most important features of the condition. It is also worth noting that, despite the seriousness of the disease, it can be prevented or controlled with self-discipline involving healthy eating, regular exercise and attention to weight, issues that, sadly, many Bahamians prefer to ignore.

Glucose and Insulin: The body gets glucose from three main sources — the food we eat is broken down into glucose, and glucose is also produced in the liver and in the muscles. With all this glucose in the blood, we would all be in serious trouble were it not for a chemical or hormone called insulin which is produced by special Beta cells located in an organ in the gut called the Pancreas.

Insulin has two important functions — it controls the amount of glucose in the blood and enables the glucose to enter and nourish every cell in the body. If, for some reason, the body is unable to produce insulin or does not produce sufficient quantities of insulin, high levels of glucose will accumulate in the blood, and this condition is known as pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Pre-diabetes means that your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are still at risk for heart disease and stroke, but, with weight loss, regular exercise and a careful diet, can avoid getting full blown diabetes and even return to normal glucose levels.

Type 1 Diabetes: This form of diabetes is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers or young adults. In Type 1 Diabetes, the Beta cells of the pancreas can no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked these cells and destroyed them. A person with Type I Diabetes will have to take synthetic insulin, eat wisely, remain physically active and keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control.

Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common form of diabetes and people can develop Type 2 diabetes at any age — even during childhood. This type of diabetes is the result of insulin resistance, which means that the fat, muscle and liver cells do not use insulin properly.

To compensate for this, the pancreas produces more and more insulin, but, in time, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to the quantity of food consumed. This is why being overweight and failing to take regular exercise increases the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes taking diabetes medications, eating wisely, staying physically active, taking aspirin daily, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.

Gestational diabetes: Some women develop diabetes in the late stages of pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes and usually disappears after the birth of the baby, however, the mother is more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes later in life. This kind of diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin.

Complications of diabetes: After many years, diabetes can lead to serious problems involving the eyes, kidneys, gums, teeth and nerves, especially the nerves of the feet. But the most serious problems caused by diabetes are heart disease and stroke. You will need to control your blood pressure and blood fat levels. If you smoke, you should quit.

Signs of diabetes: Include being very thirsty, urinating often, feeling very hungry or tired, unexplained loss of weight, sores that heal slowly, dry, itchy skin, lack of feeling or tingling in your feet and having blurry eyesight.

Blood glucose levels: If you are at all concerned about diabetes, please see your health care provider. A simple blood test will confirm whether or not you have this condition, but before having a blood test for sugar, you will have to fast from food and drink for several hours before the test. Be sure to follow the fasting guidelines prescribed by your health care provider before you show up for a blood test for sugar.

Everyone's blood has some glucose or sugar. In people who don't have diabetes, the normal blood glucose is about 70 to 120. Your blood glucose will rise after eating, but returns to normal level one or two hours after eating. Your health care provider will advise you if you need to check your blood glucose regularly with a meter.

February 18, 2008 | 5:30 PM Comments  0 comments

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