| Cutting edge |  November is Diabetes Month - dedicated to raising awareness of this debilitating disease that affects millions of people around the world. Type 1 diabetes - which generally starts in childhood and requires daily insulin injections for life, while a relatively common and serious disease, has been outstripped by type 2 diabetes.
I have seen type 2 diabetes described as a 'mild form of diabetes' in nursing and school texts. This is far from the case. Type 2 diabetes is serious, very serious. The incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly everywhere in the world, apparently related to lifestyles that are poor in exercise and self-restraint and high in calories. An accumulation of abdominal fat seems to be a particular risk factor for developing the disease - which can, in many cases, be prevented entirely by exercise and calorie restriction.
Diabetes affects the whole body. People with the disease suffer damage to their blood vessels that causes eye disease, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and peripheral vascular disease leading to loss of limbs through gangrene. Tight control of blood glucose through exercise, diet and medication is required for life in a diabetic - and even this does not completely prevent the complications of the disease.
Type 1 diabetes is largely regarded as an autoimmune disease - something that it is difficult to prevent. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, can be prevented. At least as much effort needs to be put in to prevention as into developing more and more drugs for the condition - some of which may cause more harm than good.
Bridget Farham Editor
https://www.bizcommunity.com
| | Today's headlines
Chronic diseasesNo cart required - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SAThe Heart and Stroke Foundation's Bellville Golf Classic takes place on the 28 November. Proceeds raised from this event go towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Children's Programme, which educates disadvantaged children on heart healthy habits from a young age and has reached almost 1,9 million children on a national basis.
HIV/AIDSAchmat blames Mbeki for AIDS deathsSpeaking to the BBC, Zachie Achmat has blamed Mbeki for more than 300 000 AIDS deaths. Delaying the start of HIV treatment increases mortalityDelaying the start of antiretroviral treatment in people with a CD4 T cell count of between 351 and 500 raises the risk of mortality by 70%.
MalariaMalaria deaths fall in east and west AfricaTwo new studies show that the burden of disease caused by malaria has fallen in recent years on both sides of Africa.
PharmaceuticalsDrug for diabetes may be banned in the USA major consumer group in the US has asked the Food and Drug Administration to ban the diabetes drug rosiglitazone.
Public healthGreen space may cut the health gap between rich and poorScottish researchers say that 'a bit of greenery' near our homes could reduce the incidence of illness in everyone. Congo: Heavy rains cause chaos and disease outbreaks fearedDays of torrential rain have caused severe damage to the capital of the Republic of Congo and given rise to fears of water-borne disease. |
| | Upcoming events | 3rd Conference of the Parties to the FCTC - Durban, 17 November | More... Submit an event | | |
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