Last week I started a two part series on myths and untruths about some chronic diseases. We will deal with diabetes in this concluding part.
Diabetes mellitus (Diabetes for short) is a chronic condition in which the body is unable to utilize the sugar circulating in the blood stream due to an inadequate production or suboptimal performance of a hormone known as insulin. This results in a persistently high blood sugar, which manifests as excessive urination, excessive thirst and along with it excessive drinking of water and excessive eating. Where it goes unmanaged for a long time complications involving the kidneys, nerves, eyes, heart, limbs and other organs set in. It is diagnosed with a blood test, usually requested when there are telltale signs of diabetes.
[contextly_sidebar id=”LxHyhLtcRC3FkqcrRoqN8xRadXwHTr6w”]There are two broad classifications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). In Type 1 diabetes, which commences around the 2nd decade of life, the patients depend on insulin injections for survival. In Type 2 diabetes, which occurs much later in life, patients can be managed on oral medication. In both conditions, however, treatment is for life. This discussion will focus on Type 2 diabetes, the commoner of the two.
Now, let’s bust some myths and untruths.
1. Sugary drinks will not help me, but fruit juice will: This is a grave misconception, much like the salt and artificial spice problem under the hypertension discussion. Fruit juices, even if it says “no sugar added” on the packaging, contain quite a bit of sugar. Just because it is natural does not make it sugar-free. Any fruit that tastes sweet contains sugar and for someone with diabetes, indulging in these can be detrimental to our attempts at blood sugar control. This is the one situation where the pervasive medical advice, “a lot of fruits and vegetables is good for your health” does not hold true.
2. At some point I will be taking daily injections, whether I like it or not: Taking daily injections (of insulin) means that oral medication is not achieving the control we desire. Insulin injections is thus a last resort. Some people, not all, will need this therapy at some point, usually in the late stages of the disease. No one can predict when one may need to go on insulin injections. However, strictly following your doctor’s advice can help delay or avoid it.
3. Diabetes medication (antidiabetics) is bad for my body in the long term: Because we are aware that patients with diabetes will be taking medication for a long time, the drugs used are designed to be as safe as possible. Some patients may report some minor side effects of some medications, but this is usually short lived. Furthermore, there are many classes of anti-diabetics to choose from and we go for the one that is best suited for the patient. If it is kidney failure you are afraid of, then please take your medication, because poorly managed diabetes is fast becoming the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in our parts.
4. Once my parents have it, I will get it too; there is nothing I can do about it: Again, just as for hypertension, this statement is not true. Granted, a family history of diabetes increases the risk for getting the disease significantly. However, being a lifestyle disease, there is a very strong dependence on our daily activities, and as such factors such as weight, diet and activity levels can determine if and when you will get diabetes.
5. My blood sugar rises after a meal so it is better to skip meals: This can actually be a very dangerous decision, especially when you skip meals after you have taken your medication: Skipping a meal after taking your medication can plunge you into a situation we call hypoglycemia – in this condition your blood sugar goes so low that the body and brain do not have enough energy to keep on functioning optimally. If the situation persists for a long time (a few hours), you can end up in a coma or even die. We encourage our patients with diabetes to reduce their meal portions (not skip meals) to better manage the disease. If you notice that your blood sugar goes significantly higher after your meals you have to speak to your doctor and nutritionist to help you find a solution- which I can assure you will not be to skip meals. By the way, it is normal to have a small rise in the blood sugar after a meal.
6. If you have diabetes, you will have hypertension also: Hypertension and diabetes are two independent conditions and the presence of one is not a risk factor for the other. However, because they are both lifestyle diseases and because most of their risk factors intersect, it is not uncommon to see people with diabetes also developing hypertension, and vice versa.
7. Diabetes is contagious: Now this is a good one. Fortunately, not very many people believe this to be true, and rightly so. Diabetes is a non-communicable disease, meaning it is not contagious, and cannot be contracted through close contact or through bodily fluids with someone with the disease. So please, there is absolutely no reason to stay away from people with diabetes; you will not catch it.
The incidence of non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes are on the increase in Ghana. An awareness of the factors that predispose one to developing these diseases and some basic truths about them will go a long way to prevent or better manage these diseases. I hope I have been of help.
Credit: Kojo Nimako