What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food people eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.
When people eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into the cells. In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.
What are the types of diabetes?
The three main types of diabetes are
- type 1 diabetes
- type 2 diabetes
- gestational diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection—the immune system—turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes, must take insulin daily to live.
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Type 2 Diabetes
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Their onset is not as sudden as in type 1 diabetes. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some people have no symptoms.
Gestational Diabetes
Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby, women who have had gestational diabetes have a 40 to 60 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. Maintaining a reasonable body weight and being physically active may help prevent development of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a major concern in the health sector of Mauritius
In the population group of 25 years and over, 12.7% (i.e. 52,000 individuals) have diabetes and a further 17.5% (or 83,000 individuals) have impaired glucose tolerance, whereas in the population group of 45 years and over, 23% (or 42,000 individuals) have diabetes and a further 22% (or 40,000 individuals) have impaired glucose tolerance.
Thus amongst Mauritian adults aged 45 years and over, approximately 1 in 2 people have diabetes, or have a high risk of developing it.
Source: Central Statistical Office
The chart above shows the prevalence of diabetes in 2009 in the Mauritian population. It has been noted that the prevalence of diabetes increases with age for both men and women. The prevalence of diabetes has increased by over 60% since 1987 in Mauritian population aged 25-74 years. Among those people known to have diabetes, control of their diabetes as judged by blood glucose levels was poor (47% had HbA1c 9.0%), indicating very high risk of developing diabetic complications. There are an estimated 172,400 people between the ages of 25 and 74 years with diabetes in Mauritius
Complications due to diabetes
- Renal failure
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Amputations
- Eyesight problems
Currently out of 800 patients who are undergoing dialysis, 60% are diabetics. Every year about 400 amputations are practiced and out of these 80% are diabetics. Concening eyesight problems, about 1500 diabetic patients follow treatment the Moka eye hospital.
Causes of Diabetes in Mauritius
- Unhealthy eating habits
- sedentary lifestyle
- Heredity factors
- Obesity
Prevention
- Education and sensitization at childhood
- A balanced diet and changes in eating habits
- Physical activities and yoga exercises
It is interesting to note that one person out of two has diabetis for those of our typical age. Then we people have one chance out of two to develop diabetis. Very frightening indeed. Also you mention of amputation is very discouraging. The government did a good job in controlling what is to be sold within school compounds.
ReplyDeleteOne of the common NCD people are suffering from nowadays is diabetes, which is facing an unstoppable increase. In Mauritius itself, as stated in the IPS article [http://allafrica.com/stories/200909100002.html], each year 400 Mauritians undergo amputations, another 400 have heart surgery done, 175 people have eyes operation, and all these due to Type 2 diabetes. So, this is really a worrying issue. If it is not put to a halt as from now, it is likely to increase even more. Several medical programmes like “Diabète Full Stop” have been broadcasted on tv whereby doctors and patients gave their explanations, many doctors have even been interviewed on radio, many articles also published on newspapers. Furthermore, sensitization campaigns are also carried out for the welfare of people. The latter now have to follow preventive measures in order to maintain a good health. As states in this article, healthy eating and lots of exercises are needed. Nowadays, people are so taken up with their work that they do not find time for physical activities. In addition, some people use their car to move from one place to another even if the destination is nearby. This type of behavior should be changed. A bit of walking is good. Apart from the media, the internet is also very helpful in sensitizing people. For instance, websites and blogs are used to attend to people’s questions on diabetes, examples of balanced diets and even recipes are shared, and pictures and explanations about the disease are shared. Some may even help patients to keep in touch with their doctors.
ReplyDeleteDiabetes is indeed a major problem in Mauritius. As said Government spends much to cure people suffering from diabetes. But if much money would have been invested in the prevention rather than cure it would have been better. At school the ministry officials have banned various types of food and drinks which lead to diabetes but still children look for those things in other shops. So children are still not aware of the complications awaiting them.
ReplyDeleteThe rate of people who are having diabetes at an early age is increasing at an alarming rate especially if we consider that our population is very low as compared to other big countries. The data which has been given in the blog provides justification to this statement. It is very good that there are sensitization campaigns which are carried out in order to enlighten people about the risks associated while eating too much sugary food. Still, many people are ignorant and are not taking good care of their health. The pity is that youngsters are more liable to having diabetes because of the types of food they eat. It is a very good thing that school canteens have been told to stop selling certain types of food which contain a lot of sugar. At least this has changed the eating habits of students at least in the school compounds! Once school is over, it is another story because these students will buy cakes, biscuits and ice creams! People, especially youngsters, should be taught about the importance of sports. It is up to the people to follow the advice of resource persons and even doctors. The internet is a powerful tool where there are many websites and blogs which discuss the importance of a good health and also diabetes. Thus people can benefit from these by interacting with different people across the world.
ReplyDeleteNice article Azagen. Diabetes is indeed one of the most common diseases affecting Mauritius. The role of social networking sites is fundamental not only in making people aware of health problems but also to provide support online.
ReplyDeleteNowadays it has become easier to join support groups of people having the same diseases and discuss about it. Thus in a certain way boosting the morale of the other and avoid loneliness and a feeling of being abandoned.
Similarly doctors around the world can also share their experience and also advice patients online. All these have become easier with social networking sites such as blogs, facebook, chat rooms, Twitter and so on.
Similarly, there are therapeutic journals online where people can access solutions to their diseases. Certain social networking sites also empowers patients. There are also non profit organization who help online.
For example, Manny Hernandez, of Berkeley, Calif., decided to take the social networking concept of Facebook and apply it to diabetes.
In March 2007, he founded TuDiabetes and its Spanish-speaking version EsTuDiabetes. This really working well and it has a lot of subscribers online.
Therefore social networking sites have proved to be a boon when it comes to diseases.
Tolsy Pillai
ReplyDeleteThere has been an incredible rise in diabetes in Mauritius tough several program campaigns are being carried out. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic medical problems in Mauritius.
A University expert in the treatment of diabetes is leading a unique mission to Mauritius in a bid to tackle the island’s high rates of disease. Mauritius has the second highest prevalence rate of diabetes in the world with islanders suffering disabling and potentially fatal complications as a result.
World Research Group's Diabetes Prevention and Management social networking forum provides health plans and employers, with proven strategies to develop and implement programs that will prevent and manage diabetes, with measurable benefits to members/patients and the bottom line.
Conference is being designed to deliver a balance of high quality content together with networking activities for the exchange of ideas and best practices around the world.
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ReplyDelete