World Diabetes Day is celebrated annually on 14th November, this year, the day is being marked worldwide with the theme “The family and diabetes”.
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by high blood glucose because a hormone called insulin is either absent, reduced in quantity or defective.
There are 3 main types of diabetes mellitus:
1.Type 1 diabetes where there is insulin deficiency because of the destruction of the pancreas the organ that produces insulin which is responsible for bringing blood glucose down.
2. Type 2 Diabetes where there is insulin resistance i.e. insulin is unable to work properly associated often with a reduction in the secretion of insulin.
3. Gestational diabetes, caused by hormones of pregnancy and usually evident after the 2nd trimester of pregnancy.
A diagnosis of diabetes affects the whole family; it is costly to manage due to regular hospital visits, medications, regular laboratory requests, and glucose monitoring which may be up to 7-8 times a day in some instances. This certainly will affect the family’s finances; especially if the family has no adequate insurance cover and have to pay out of pocket.
Secondly, patients and their families may go through periods of anxiety and distress, this is often more pronounced when a young child is diagnosed with diabetes. This distress is often due to limited knowledge about diabetes and not knowing how to support loved ones. Educating family members about diabetes can help ease this strain.
One of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes is a family history of diabetes, if one person is diagnosed with diabetes, all close family members especially siblings and children acquire an increased risk of also developing diabetes. Thankfully, type 2 diabetes is a preventable illness when lifestyle changes are initiated. Therefore, your family members must be made aware of your diagnosis and lifestyle changes instituted for them. These lifestyle changes are the same as those used in managing diabetes. Where possible, lifestyle changes prescribed for a patient with diabetes e.g. increased physical activity, healthy diet and weight loss where indicated must be implemented by all family members.
If you have type 2 diabetes and you have a daughter of childbearing age, she must be informed so she can be screened for gestational diabetes at the appropriate time.
Family support
Family education is integral to providing support for the individual with diabetes as well as to raise awareness among family members. The way family members communicate and their attitudes, often have a significant impact on a patient’s psychological well-being, including their decision to follow recommendations for medical treatment and their ability to commence and maintain changes in diet and exercise. It is encouraged that patients diagnosed with diabetes must eat from the family pot and not be cooked separate meals; this ensures that the whole family is eating healthy meals and also helps the patient comply. It is unreasonable to expect one person to eat a meal that is often unpalatable whilst everyone else is eating something else that looks more appetizing. The diet prescribed must be palatable for all members of the family to enjoy. Family foods must contain fruits and vegetables (not necessarily salads if you don’t fancy them). Our local diets of kontomire, garden eggs, okro etc. will suffice. They can be prepared in healthy and appetizing ways and form a major part of any family’s diet.
Family members are encouraged to join in physical activities prescribed for patients. This will reduce their risk of diabetes and also be a form of support to the patient.
How can you help your family member with diabetes?
- Learn about diabetes. In particular, know the symptoms of low blood glucose which includes sweating, chills, irritability, shakiness, hunger, blurred vision, palpitations etc. and how to correct this, this can be a lifesaver if your relative gets a low blood sugar during treatment. Additionally, know the symptoms of high blood glucose which include frequent urination, large volume urine, frequent thirst, weight loss and advice your family member known and unknown to have diabetes to seek medical advice if you notice any of these symptoms.
- Family members can sabotage or undermine patients’ self-care efforts by planning unhealthy meals, tempting patients to eat unhealthy foods, or questioning the need for medications, DO NOT DO THIS.
- Be encouraging and join them in their lifestyle changes i.e. follow the lifestyle changes prescribed for them. You will be supporting them whilst reducing your risk of getting diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes, is largely preventable. It is preventable by lifestyle changes i.e. making sure you’re physically active, eating healthy and having an optimum body weight. These lifestyle changes should be incorporated into family routines; the family must automatically be involved when one person gets diagnosed with diabetes. Family members can be a great resource or can be problem to a patient. If you have a family member with diabetes choose to be the former. If you are the person living with diabetes, your diagnosis should make you resolve to reduce the chances of other family members being diagnosed with diabetes, do not hide your diagnosis, educate your family and reduce their risk of diabetes.