Diabetes Mellitus is a clinical condition of abnormally high blood glucose which can lead to serious complications if not treated appropriately.

The food (carbohydrates) we eat is normally converted to glucose in our body to produce energy for us to live. Examples of carbohydrate-containing foods include bread, sugar, Mealie Pap, Sorghum etc.

Under normal circumstances, when we eat these foods, they are converted to glucose which is used to manufacture a chemical substance called ATP, the energy currency of the body. Insulin, another chemical (hormone) found in our body is responsible for this process.

In patients who have Diabetes Mellitus, there is a relative or absolute deficiency of Insulin and this leads to their inability to use Glucose and hence the increased blood levels and its consequential complications.

When there is total lack of Insulin, it is called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and this occurs early in life and the person will need to receive Insulin regularly to survive.

When the Insulin lack is relative, it means that the person is still making some Insulin but not enough to adequately meet the requirements of the body. This situation is referred to as Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). This condition occurs later in life and in most cases can be treated by taking some pills regularly.

Symptoms

A person may suspect that he/she is suffering from Diabetes Mellitus if the following conditions are present:

• Unexplained hunger
• Thirst (raving and drinking a lot of fluids such as water, juices etc)
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Excessive passing of urine
• Visual blurring
• Tiredness
• Lack of libido or impotence
• Recurrent infections

When some or all the above are present, the person must go to the nearest clinic or see a doctor to check for Diabetes Mellitus. Please note that all the above may not be due to Diabetes Mellitus only as other diseases may present with some of the abovementioned features.

In the Clinic or at the Surgery, the doctor will listen to your history, do some physical examination to see the extent of the c o n d i - t i o n and al s o l o o k for other di s eas e s that may have similar features. Your blood will be tested for Diabetes Mellitus and if confirmed, appropriate treatment will be started. In some instances, you may need to undergo more tests of the other organs like your kidneys, liver, eyes and the heart.

Depending on the situation, treatment may include one or more of the followings:

Lifestyle modification: Dietary, weight loss, regular exercise, stop smoking, reduce or stop alcohol intake Insulin injection: in the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, the affected person will need to take Insulin injection regularly. Unfortunately, Insulin is not available in oral form, so the person will have to learn how to inject him/herself with Insulin.

Oral Tablets will be given to people with Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. The tablets may be taken in different dosages as advised by the doctor.

The complications of untreated or poorly treated Diabetes Mellitus include the following, among others:

• Blindness
• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Infertility & Impotence
• Diabetic foot and amputation
• Recurrent infections

It is important to note that Diabetes Mellitus is not curable but it can be controlled to a level where the patient can live a normal life as much as possible

Dr. Akin Akinjolire
Mobile: 0823924738
photo: stock exchange 

KAMHLUSHWA – Scores of Nkomazi sport lovers of different sporting codes converged at KaMhlushwa community hall Sunday, 13 September. They all gathered for the Sports Indaba coordinated by the Nkomazi Municipality and the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation (DCSR). The main goal of the Indaba was to share information that will lead to effective sport bodies in the Nkomazi region.

Making the presentations was Mr. Paul Mofokeng, the deputy director of sports and recreation. He made clear to the hall that in order for all sport bodies to be active and sustainable, a sports council is needed. Furthermore, the national department of sports announced that every region in the country must have a sports council. This council will be under the watchful eye of the local municipality, but will be affiliates of the South African Sports Council.

“Every municipality must have a sport council that is inclusive of all the sporting codes and has at least two members per sporting code,” said Mofokeng. The council will attend to any issues before the greater sports community gets involved. In addition, the council will be helpful in accessing different sponsorships from businesses. With the council, people will know that the teams or people are from a recognized sports community under the municipality. Mofokeng explained that if the council does not follow the rule of having at least two representatives from each sporting code, it will be ineffective and, in result, be disbanded. If there is a properly functioning sports council, Mofokeng explained, funding can be accessed through the department.

When questioned about the issue of school sports, Mofokeng envisaged that members of school sports’ desks must be included, as the department’s main intention is to involve children in sports.

The Indaba saw the entire house making a resolution to form a sport council. On Sunday it was acknowledged that not all sporting codes were represented, therefore, the formation of the sports council will be at a later meeting on 27 September.

Each sporting code is expected to send two representatives to the meeting on 27 September at 9 in the morning at KaMhlushwa community hall. Failing to do so will lead to representation by people they have not selected or the failure of the initiative.