Educate yourself on diabetes this month

Diabetes was responsible for four million deaths in 2017.To mark diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day today (14 November), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is urging families to learn more about the warning signs of diabetes.

New research from IDF has discovered that South African parents would struggle to spot this serious life-long disease in their own children.

Despite the majority of people surveyed (70%) having a family member with diabetes, an alarming three-in-four parents (74%) would have trouble recognising the warning signs.

Two-in-five (40%) wouldn’t spot them at all.

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IDF says the findings underline the need for education and awareness to help people spot the diabetes warning signs early.

The warning signs can include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, a lack of energy, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, and numbness in the feet and/or hands.

According to IDF, a lack of knowledge about diabetes means that spotting the warning signs is not just a problem for parents, but is an issue impacting a cross-section of society.

This is a major concern, due to the signs being milder in type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of the condition, responsible for around 90% of all diabetes cases.

Left untreated or unmanaged, diabetes can lead to life-changing complications. These include blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke.

‘It is vital everyone learns to identify the warning signs of diabetes. Sadly, diabetes can be easily missed or mistaken for a different condition and this leaves people -whether children or adults – vulnerable to serious consequences,’ said IDF President Prof. Nam H. Cho.

‘Diabetes can become a life-threatening disease. It has devastating complications if not treated early and managed appropriately.

‘The rise in diabetes – particularly type 2, which is largely preventable – could in many cases be halted if people knew the warning signs and risk factors so they could adopt a healthier lifestyle or, if necessary, seek treatment.

‘For many, particularly in developing countries, type 1 diabetes is still a death sentence.

‘Many with type 2 diabetes are diagnosed too late when complications are already present.

This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.’

‘This November, the International Diabetes Federation is urging people to test their diabetes knowledge and learn more.

IDF has made an awareness assessment available online: https://discoverdiabetes.idf.org/

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