Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living - Issue 2 | Page 17

Diabetes is often referred to as a disease of
lifestyle. This is because poor lifestyle choices
often lead to changes in our metabolism, which
could result in a diabetes diagnosis. But what is
diabetes? And who is at risk of contracting this
disease?
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is known as the ‘sugar’ condition, because
people with the diagnosis are said to have too much
‘sugar’ in their blood, as their bodies are not able to
transport sugar to the cells that need it for energy. This
is as a result of changes aff ecting insulin, a hormone
made by the pancreas, that enables cells to absorb
glucose (sugar) from the blood and use it for energy.
Diabetes leads to raised levels of glucose in the blood
(hyperglycaemia), which is associated with long-term
damage to the body.
The changes that aff ect insulin are diff erent for Type 1
and Type 2 diabetes:
• Type 1 diabetes: The pancreas produces no or very
little of the hormone insulin
• Type 2 diabetes: The body cannot process insulin
eff ectively (insulin resistance) and may start making
less and less insulin (insulin defi ciency)
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Who is at risk for Type 2 diabetes?
The Council of Medical Schemes has identifi ed that, with
an increase in diagnosis of almost 70% between 2008
and 2013, Type 2 diabetes is the second fastest growing
condition in South Africa (after HIV/AIDS).
Those who are obese, follow a poor diet, do not exercise
and have a family history of diabetes, are at risk. In
South Africa, ethnicity is also a factor, with the Black and
Indian population at higher risk. The only way to know for
sure if you have elevated blood sugar levels is to have it
tested. This should be done by the age of 40 or earlier if
you have risk factors.
There may however, be no
obvious symptoms.
Management of diabetes
Managing the risk of diabetes holistically and following
the prescribed treatment plan are important steps to
protecting oneself from the eff ects of this disease.
To lead a healthier and fuller life, it is of utmost
importance that diabetic patients take their chronic
medication and insulin. If diabetes is not managed, the
eff ects of the da mage can be widespread.
B-Living Issue 2, 2017
Page 16