Diabetes treatment and care is not just a matter of the patient and the physician

Under the auspices of the International Diabetes Federation, World Diabetes Day is celebrated around the world on November 14 every year. This year, the day is being celebrated with the theme "Diabetes: Nurses Make the Difference". In fact, the purpose of choosing this theme is to raise awareness about the important role of Diabetes Specialist Nurses at all levels, who care for diabetic patients.

There is a legend that after the search for the famous king, Alexander the Great, many fountains of water of life were accessed, but it was not intentionally irrigated. Was living life So decided that a short healthy life is better than a long but helpless life. It is the desire of every human being to have as much health as possible. May Allah protect him from disability, need and all kinds of diseases.

Therefore, it is a well-known saying that "health is a great wealth." If proper care is not taken, you will not only shorten the life span, but also cause many complications and disabilities. Diabetes is also counted among such disorders. Also, not only the person concerned but also the patient's family and loved ones can be affected mentally, physically and financially.

 In 2015, 415 million people (415 million) were affected by the disease, and it was feared that if the disease rate continued to rise, this number would reach 642 million (642 million) by 2040. The tragedy is that over the last decade, this increase has been seen only in low- and middle-income countries compared to developed countries. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2017, Pakistan had the second highest prevalence and number of diabetics in the Middle East and North Africa.

According to the ninth magazine of the same federation, 19 million Pakistanis were diabetic in 2019 and the rate was 17.1% in terms of population, which is very high anyway. In terms of the number of patients, Pakistan is among the top ten countries affected by the disease. And it is also a tragedy that out of these 19 million patients, almost half (5.8 million) do not even get diagnosed. It should be noted that even in the world, one out of every two people with diabetes is not diagnosed with the disease. Increase.

According to a survey by the Diabetes Prevention Survey of Pakistan, a local medical institute, about 10.91% of people in our country suffer from pre-diabetes, which is called "Pre Diabetes" in English. Due to the change, people of all ages are now suffering from diabetes, but the rate is much higher among people aged 51 to 60.

Remember, aging, weight gain, especially central obesity, the inclusion of diabetes in family history, lifestyle changes, facilitation and lack of exercise are the main causes of increasing rates of diabetes. Also, the more diabetes-related information and awareness there is in a society, the more likely it is that the rate of the disease will increase and the chances of complications will increase.

 No organ or system of the body is protected from the complications of diabetes. Lack of proper care and maintenance increases the chances of kidney problems, especially if the patient is addicted to smoking, unbalanced diet, high salt intake, does not exercise, is overweight, Heart disease or kidney disease in the family. According to an analysis conducted in 2019, Pakistan is ranked eighth in the world with 17 million kidney patients, mainly due to diabetes and high blood pressure.

 According to another survey, 100 out of every 1 million people in Pakistan have complete kidney failure, which is mainly due to diabetes. In our country, about 20,000 people die every year due to kidney failure. Patients are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease, stroke and heart attack than the general population. The longer the duration of diabetes, the greater the risk of these problems.

In adults with diabetes, stroke and heart attack are the leading causes of death, while the risk of dying from heart disease is 2 to 4 times higher. About 68% of deaths among people aged 65 and over are due to a variety of heart diseases. According to a 2012 analysis, heart attack causes death in 65% of people with diabetes, while stroke in 16%.

 Even in a developed country like the UK, diabetes causes a heart attack in 530 people every week and a stroke in 680 people. Another unfortunate fact is that strokes occur at an early age, compared to people who do not have diabetes. Especially in people whose blood sugar is not balanced, the recovery process after a stroke not only slows down, but also increases the mortality rate. Remember, out of every one lakh people in Pakistan, 250 suffer from paralysis.

 Despite all these problems, complications and lethalities, it is a good idea to treat diabetes well, take care of it, keep your blood sugar levels balanced, quit smoking, control your high blood pressure, and not gain weight. Keep your blood fat levels normal, reduce belly fat, exercise and get enough sleep, then the chances of stroke and heart attack are reduced. Diabetes also affects mental abilities and functions, especially type 2 diabetes. Blood vessels are affected in 20 to 40% of people with Alzheimer's disease, especially in people whose blood sugar levels are unbalanced (ie, keep rising).

Memory Impairment: Alzheimer's is a mental illness in which it becomes difficult to perform daily routines, walk and talk. Similarly, dementia also affects the brain abilities. Remember, the main cause of Alzheimer's is dementia. Feelings of fatigue and weakness all the time. Patients are often seen asking their doctor, “Doctor! Also prescribe some strength medicine, it feels very strong.” Irritability occurs in the mood. The ability to think is affected. Anxiety, restlessness. In addition, frustration and depression can occur.

Hearing Impairment: Because diabetes affects the cerebral arteries and blood vessels, the chances of hearing loss being affected are twice as high as in the general population.

Dental diseases: If the amount of sugar in the blood is unbalanced (stays high), then the chances of dental diseases also increase. The patient usually has dry mouth, gum disease worsens, worsens, fungal infections can occur in the mouth, resulting in blisters and increased risk of tooth loss.

Eye diseases: If the amount of sugar in the blood exceeds the prescribed limits, you may feel blurred vision. In this regard, it is very important to never buy a new pair of glasses or spectacles, unless the blood sugar level is balanced. Worsens, while the chances of glaucoma are higher than in the general population.

If the disease is diagnosed in time and proper treatment is started without delay and there is information about the disease, then a full and long life can be lived with diabetes. Also, the growing tendency and rate of the disease can be controlled. And it can be prevented in the pre-diabetes phase.

To prevent diabetes, it is important to avoid weight gain, exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes daily, at least five days a week or as directed by your doctor), eat a balanced, healthy and appropriate diet. Be done Avoid the use of marketed, greasy products. Also check with your doctor from time to time.

In addition, an observational analysis (known as the DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM OR DPP) has shown that weight loss and exercise can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 50%.

However, it is a serious condition that affects not only the individual, but also his family, loved ones and society as a whole, as well as the whole country. Of course, in order to be safe from it and to face it, there is a great deal of awareness and awareness in terms of avoiding problems, complications and dealing with everyday problems. Including other people also have a big role.

 Just a few medicines do not guarantee a better and healthier life (as is often the case with finding a medicine that will improve everything). Treatment requires a team of specialists, including a nutritionist. Has an important role to play. Remember, whether you have type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes mellitus or any type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, it is very important to consult a nutritionist once a year.

Keep in mind that proper treatment is not possible without nutritional information. In addition, there is the important and key role of Diabetes Specialist Nurses(DSNs: Diabetes Specialist Nurses), who, while acknowledging their importance and valuable services, The day is named after him.

As we know, patients have to make lifestyle changes in order to live a good life in terms of treatment. Awareness about treatment is essential. There are many types of problems that can occur in everyday life, how to deal with them, if there are medical problems, how to deal with them, how to take various precautions, this is where the role of DSS begins. People with this condition suffer from psychological problems, which can lead to depression and depression, especially when complications arise.

In addition to medical advice and medication, Diabetes Specialist Nurses play a vital role in supporting, encouraging, and assisting patients to lead a better life. For example, explaining the correct way to use the medicine, how to use the medicine used in case of insulin or injection. How to keep them safe in different situations in different situations. There is no refrigerator or refrigerator at home, during travel, during Hajj or performing religious duties or as is often the case with power outages, so how to keep insulin safe or there may be other issues in this regard, such as during What precautions should be taken during Ramadan or fasts?

How to check your blood sugar, how to do it, how to record it, how to keep a record and what your blood sugar should be (depending on the patient's condition and medical advice) Should include), how to determine the amount of blood in the urine when needed or in remote areas where facilities are not available, economic problems, and some emergency, anxiety and acidic conditions (such as Diabetes Ketoacidosis) Can occur in type one, rarely in type two, how to diagnose this condition by urine test. If the blood sugar level rises or falls (Hyperglycemia), then inform the patient about his symptoms and conditions, how to prevent this condition and how to treat it.

Also, the duties of nurses include raising awareness about foot problems and their precautions. It has also been observed that timely treatment and precaution can reduce the chances of foot injuries and amputations by about 85%. Also, in this busy and diverse life, many more problems can arise, so deal with them all. Contacting Diabetes Specialist Nurses is very helpful. Although the role of Diabetes Specialist Nurses is not as active and integrated as in other countries, there has been a department called "Diabetes Educator" for some time now. They are few in number now, their training facilities are limited, but they are rendering valuable services that their training is more or less on the same lines as that of DSNS.

It is also important to note that it is often difficult for any individual or patient to consult a medical professional on a daily basis, so it is important to consult a DSSN or Diabetes Educator. Can act as a bridge between patients.

The treatment of diabetes is not the work of an individual, it is a teamwork, a core member of which is the DNS, but keep in mind that the final advice or opinion will always be from the physician. Note: All of this information and instructions are general. ۔ Each patient's condition may vary under specific circumstances, so the advice of the relevant medical professional should be considered final.