Lions raise awareness on Diabetes
Some of the people who were tested were unaware just how close they were to a heart attack or worse.
ON SATURDAY August 22, the Vryheid Lions Club had a high blood pressure and daibetes testing station at Shoprite.
The aim of the station was to give free check ups for community members in order to make them aware of their health statuses and moreover to understand the importance of having regular check ups.
Diabetes is in actual fact a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
There are three types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes where the body does not produce insulin. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1. Type 2 Diabetes where the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function. Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.Then there is Gestational Diabetes which affects females during pregnancy.
The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
According to medical workers, the fact that many diabetic patients only get help when they already have complications, also poses a great burden on the health care system, whereas 80% of type 2 diabetes could have been avoided through the following of a healthy eating plan and regular exercise.
This was also a case that was noted by the paramedics that were assisting on Saturday as some of the people who were tested were unaware just how close they were to a heart attack or worse.
One 46 year-old male’s cholesterol reading was 12.8 while one 65 year-old female had a blood pressure reading of 220/120 (Any blood pressure reading of higher than 115/75mmHg is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The risk of heart attack and stroke doubles for every 20-point increase in systolic pressure or every 10-point rise in diastolic pressure.).
The Lions Club said that they would be having more of these testing stations around town in the future and would like to thank the KwaZulu Private Ambulance paramedics Vuma Macu and Frikkie Bekker for their help.
They would also like to thank Shoprite for letting them use their premises.
