Complications of Diabetes
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications and certain populations experience an even greater threat. Good diabetes management can help reduce the risk. However, many people are not even aware that they have diabetes until they develop one of its complications.
Heart disease and stroke
Heart disease and stroke account for about 65% of deaths in people with
diabetes.
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.

The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher.

High blood pressure
About 70% of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or use prescription medications for hypertension.
Blindness
Diabetic retinopathy causes blindness and makes diabetes the leading cause
of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.

Kidney disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
Nervous system disease
About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands. Almost 30% of people with diabetes aged 40 years or older have impaired sensation in the feet .
Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower extremity amputations.
Amputations
The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for
people without diabetes.

Dental disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is more common in people with diabetes. Among
young adults, those with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without
diabetes.
Complications of pregnancy
Poorly controlled diabetes before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects.
Poorly controlled diabetes during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can result in excessively large babies, posing a risk to both mother and child.

Sexual Dysfunction
Men with diabetes are 2 times as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as
men without diabetes.
Women with type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to experience prevalence of
sexual dysfunction compared with women without diabetes.
Other Uncontrolled diabetes often leads to biochemical imbalances that can cause acute life-threatening events, such as diabetic coma.
People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses, such as
influenza and pneumonia.
Treatment of Diabetes

Working together, people with diabetes and their health care providers can
reduce the occurrence of these and other diabetes complications by controlling the levels of blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids, and by receiving other preventive care practices in a timely manner.
Treatment of diabetes is aimed at lowering the blood glucose to a certain target point and maintaining it, as well as treating any associated risk factors that may complicate the picture.
Treatment starts by adjusting the patient’s lifestyle and may involve the use of tablets or insulin by injection.

Article courtesy of Old mutual

Read the two articles “Discovery meets BHF to heal rift over policy issues” and “Meer fondse wil hul aan RGF onttrek” that appeared in The Times and Beeld.

Recent media reports of the two confirmed deaths due to swine flu and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ estimate that there are now 700 confirmed cases of swine flu in the country have raised concerns about the impact of this epidemic in South Africa.

There is, however, no reason to panic. Most of the confirmed cases of swine flu are mild, with no substantial differences from normal seasonal flu. Every year between 0.5 and 1% of people, who contract seasonal flu, die of complications. In the US more than 40 000 die every year due to the seasonal flu.  The mortality rate for swine flu has thus far proven to be far lower than this.

It is, however, important to be informed about the situation. The signs and symptoms of swine flu are exactly the same as for those of seasonal flu. The treatment for symptoms is the same for most cases. Anyone who shows flu-like symptoms and is concerned should see a healthcare professional. This is especially important for people who are at a higher risk of contracting flu and the complications thereof. However, the Department of Health has confirmed that there is no need to be tested for swine flu, since the treatment for swine flu and regular flu are the same, and not everybody will need treatment. Treatment decisions should be taken by a healthcare professional.

People who fall into the high-risk category include people with chronic heart or lung disease, pregnant women and people with conditions that compromise one’s immunity as well as young children and adults, particularly in institutions like schools and universities.

Discovery Health’s Swine Flu Task Team is working closely with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Department of Health to manage the swine flu situation in South Africa.

Read the article “No panic after swine flu death” that appeared in The Sowetan and “Swine flu scare: we will be able to stop people dying” that appeared in The Star.