In Celebration of World Diabetes Day, Med Pak interviews
Dr L. Jojo, a Healthcare Practitioner from Yellow Corner
Medical Centre in Mthatha
Q: Is diabetes the most common chronic condition you treat?
A: Diabetes is one of common chronic diseases affecting our community. It has serious complications if it not well controlled. It can also lead to death.
Q: Once diagnosed with diabetes, what is your next step to treat the patient?
A: Regular screening for diabetes is very important more especially if you have the following risk factors. History of diabetes in the family, overweight, high sugar diet, other chronic diseases like hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle.
Q: What are the challenges faced with diabetic patients?
A: Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you must change you lifestyle. Eat healthy foods, vegetables, stay away from sugar and fizzy drinks. Start exercising. Take your treatment well. Always consult your doctor when you notice something unusual in your body.
Q: What advise can you provide to other healthcare practitioners regarding treatment of diabetes?
A: Many patients will experience fluctuation of blood sugar levels. They may have the following symptoms; dizziness, generalised body weakness, tiredness, shaking, thirst, hunger, frequent urination, sometimes they even collapse.
Q: Can diabetes be managed through lifestyle? What lifestyle changes would you recommend to your patients?
A: Complications of diabetes :
It damages small blood vessels, all organs with small blood vessels are affected. Eyes leading to poor vision, brain leading to stroke, heart leading to heart attack, kidney leading to kidney failure, and skin causing peripheral vascular disease ( gangrene also know as diabetic foot).
It also lowers the immune system by damaging some white blood cells.
Health education and screening is the most important part of managing diabetes.
