I was shocked when I read the current statistics that show
over 200 people every day are diagnosed with mature onset
diabetes in Australia. You can bet that the statistics in
Bali are pretty much the same, although the awareness / diagnosis
may be slightly less.
Diabetes is now the world’s fastest growing disease.
Alarmingly, about 50 percent of people with diabetes are not
aware they have it. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause
of death in developed countries and type II diabetes (mature
onset) represents about 85 to 90 percent of all cases of diabetes.
This is the type of diabetes that we will look here. Early
detection and management allows people living with diabetes
to enjoy a healthy life.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where a person becomes intolerant
to sugars because the pancreas (organ on the left side of
the belly) either does not make the chemical (insulin) needed
to digest sugar (juvenile onset diabetes), or is not making
enough (mature onset diabetes). Type I or juvenile onset diabetics
will need insulin injections and type II, or mature onset
diabetics will need medication to stimulate the production
of insulin. Both will need to control their carbohydrate (sugar)
intake. Many people still consider that type II diabetes is
a “grannies” or “oldies” disease.
This is not necessarily so. Many people in their early twenties
develop diabetes, and with proper diet, lifestyle and medication
live long and healthy lives.
Risk factors for developing type II diabetes would be:
- Obesity and age over 40 years
- Family history of diabetes.
- Sedentary lifestyle with diet high
in fats and calories
Signs and Symptoms
- Excess thirst and excess urination
- Rapid weight loss for no reason
- Sugar in the urine.
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Dehydration
- Fatigue or weakness
- Blurred vision
- Stiffness in the shoulder and upper
back, leg cramps
- Pruritus (skin irritation), numbness,
and tingling in the hands and feet
If you think there is a chance that you may have any of these
symptoms. You will need to check your blood sugar levels.
These tests can be done directly at Prodia laboratory in Denpasar,
and you will need to be fasting for 8 hours before the test
is performed. When you get the test results they will need
to be read by a doctor.
If the test is positive then you will have to consider some
serious lifestyle changes. Such as losing weight, diet, and
exercise. The doctor will also prescribe some medication to
stimulate insulin production.
What if you choose to ignore the disease?
Many people will choose to ignore the symptoms of diabetes,
and even ignore the diagnosis once they have been told, however
this is an extremely dangerous thing to do. The effects of
long term uncontrolled high blood sugar levels are deadly.
Blood vessels throughout the body will begin to harden, causing
strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness, and poor
circulation to the limbs which may result in amputation. All
of these can be avoided if the right precautions are taken.
More information is available at <www.diabetes.org.au>.
“Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife
that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty
years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral
service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any
health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail
at info@chcbali.com”.
