July 12-18th is national diabetes week, aimed at increasing awareness of the mental impact felt by those living with diabetes.
When someone has diabetes, their body is unable to control or maintain the level of sugar (glucose) in their blood. Our bodies rely on glucose to convert into energy for daily activities, this is done with the help of a hormone called insulin. In people with Type 2 Diabetes, their body either does not produce enough insulin or the body doesn’t respond to insulin effectively, commonly termed insulin resistance . In Type 1 diabetes (an auto-immune condition) the immune system is activated to destroy the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. We do not know what causes this auto-immune reaction. Type 1 diabetes is not linked to modifiable lifestyle factors. Diabetes can also occur temporarily during pregnancy; this is called gestational diabetes. There can be health problems when blood glucose is too high or too low, so ensuring that this level is stable is important in the management of diabetes.
Diabetes can be very expensive, both financially and psychologically. With regular glucose testing and monitoring, carbohydrate counting, cost of insulin and cost of other support all contributing to the impact of living with diabetes.
Recognising the psychological impact, as well as the physical impact of living with diabetes can make a big difference in the support felt by someone living with diabetes and could potentially contribute to improvements in long term management.
In Stride Health Clinic offers a range of services for those who have diabetes or pre-diabetes to support the management of the condition and prevent complications. It is recommended that all people with diabetes have an annual foot check – our podiatrists use a special machine (doppler) to check the blood flow to your feet and check the sensation – two things that can be affected by diabetes. Your podiatrist will support you in reducing foot complications related to diabetes including ulcers and amputation. Our podiatrists offer safe footcare for your nail and any skin conditions.
Our physiotherapists can help keep you mobile and support exercise programs to help you maintain weight.
Our dietitian can work with you to develop an eating plan and advise you on foods that help maintain good blood sugar control. A dietitian can support you in weight management specific to chronic disease management.
To learn more about National Diabetes Week or Diabetes in general, head to https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
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