World Diabetes Day is celebrated on Saturday 14 November with the theme "Early action against diabetes". The campaign emphasises early diagnosis, access to comprehensive care and the reduction of stigma. According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 589 million adults worldwide live with diabetes. More than four out of every ten do not know they have it.
How does diabetes develop?
Insulin helps move glucose from the blood into cells, where it is used as energy. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin. It can develop at any age and people with this type need insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body responds less well to insulin and over time may produce too little of it to manage blood sugar. Signs include unusual thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision. Type 2 often develops gradually and can cause few or no noticeable symptoms for a long time.
How do you get tested?
Ask a clinic or doctor about a blood test if you have symptoms or elevated risk, for example due to a family history of type 2 diabetes. A fasting blood glucose test measures your blood sugar after you have fasted for at least eight hours. An HbA1c test gives an indication of your average blood sugar over the previous two to three months and usually does not require fasting. If you have no clear symptoms, a second abnormal test result is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis.
How do you lower your risk or manage diabetes?
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal and your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greater. Regular exercise, healthy eating habits and weight loss where appropriate can help to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as brisk walking. If you already have diabetes, your clinic or doctor can help you with a plan for eating habits, exercise, blood sugar monitoring and medication. Some people with type 2 diabetes also need insulin. Regular eye, kidney and foot examinations help to detect complications early.
Stellenbosch University media contacts for 14 November
Stellenbosch University has made two experts available for media questions about World Diabetes Day.
- Dr Darcelle Schouw, senior researcher in the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, can discuss Living GREAT for Diabetes, a project for group empowerment and training. 021 938 9927 · [email protected]
- Dr Ankia Coetzee, senior lecturer and endocrinologist in the Department of Endocrinology, can discuss atypical diabetes and diabetes during pregnancy and explain how hormones and the glands that produce them affect the body. 082 323 3713 · [email protected]
Sources: Stellenbosch University, World Health Organization, International Diabetes Federation, NIDDK
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
