October 2008 - City of uMhlathuze

Learn about diabetes
Just as a motor vehicle needs fuel to run, so too does
our body and its fuel is glucose. Glucose is produced
from food digested in our stomachs and travels through
the blood stream to ‘fuel’ the body’s cells. However,
for the cells to be able to use the glucose, the hormone
insulin is required. Insulin is normally produced by
the pancreas and when it does not produce sufficient
insulin for the body to absorb the glucose in the blood
stream, a person develops diabetes (also known as
sugar diabetes).
There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 usually
affects young people and occurs when the pancreas
stops producing insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes
control their blood sugar levels by injecting themselves
with insulin so that the body can use the glucose in
the blood stream. The dosage of insulin is carefully
balanced with food intake and exercise programmes.
Type 2 diabetes usually affects older people (40
years and older) who may be overweight and do not
exercise and is caused when the pancreas does not
produce sufficient insulin or it is not working properly.
People with Type 2 diabetes need to reduce their
weight (if they are overweight), exercise and follow
healthy eating patterns to manage their blood glucose
levels. Usually tablets are prescribed to improve control
of blood sugar levels.
Following a healthy diet includes eating three
smaller meals at regular intervals during the day;
choose low fat foods and use very little fat when
cooking; eat plenty of starchy foods particularly those
with a low glycaemic index such as wholewheat seed
bread and cereals, brown rice, pasta, oats, beans,
peas and lentils; have at least five servings of fresh
fruit and vegetables every day; don’t eat more than
you need; use less salt; limit alcohol intake; and avoid
being overweight as this reduces the strain on the
pancreas.
Symptoms of high blood glucose levels are
excessive thirst, frequent urination, tiredness,
exhaustion, unexplained loss of weight, changes in
vision, numbness in hands and feet, impotence, slow
healing cuts or bruises, boils and itching.
Living with high blood glucose levels for a long
period of time can cause serious damage to delicate
parts of your body such as the large and small blood
vessels and fine nerve endings. If left unchecked this
can cause problems that could lead to blindness,
kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and amputations.
The good news is that with early detection and
good care, advances in medical treatment make it
possible to stay healthy.
The uMhlathuze Municipal Clinics offer testing
of blood glucose levels – have yours tested.
Focus on public health
Vitamin A campaign
The uMhlathuze Clinic Services participated in a Provincial campaign
during September to administer Vitamin A drops to children under-five
years of age.
During the campaign, which is an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal
Department of Health, uMhlathuze Clinic Services educated parents
on the importance of Vitamin A in children as it helps with normal growth
and development, protects children from sickness and helps reduce the
effect of infections (measles and diarrhoea).
Breast milk is rich in Vitamin A, therefore babies should be fed only
breast milk for the first six months and thereafter breastfeeding should
continue until the child is at least two years old. Vitamin A rich foods
should be eaten every day, such as orange-coloured fruits and vegetables
(carrots, sweet potato, mangoes,
pawpaw), dark green leafy
vegetables (morogo/imfino,
spinach), liver, eggs, egg yolks,
full-cream milk and small fish.
Staple foods, such as maize meal
and bread that are fortified with
Vitamin A.
The first signs of vitamin A
deficiency are if a person has
difficulty seeing in dim light, foamy
white patches on the white part
of the eye (bitôt spots) and in
children they are inclined to get
measles and diarrhoea more
seriously and are more likely to
die from illnesses. Vitamin A
deficiency is also the foremost
cause of child blindness.
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At the Empangeni Municipal Clinic
during the Vitamin A campaign,
young Nonhlanhla Mdletshe
relaxed in his mum, Fikile Dlodlo’s
arms as Sister Nomcebo Nkosi
administered his drops.
Extra care at clinic
Visitors to the Municipal
Clinic in Empangeni
received care for their
souls as well as their
bodies as Bibles were
given to the patients as
they waited to receive
attention from the
medical staff. During her
four-day mission, Karen
Wolhuter handed out 500
Zulu, two Afrikaans and
43 English New
Testament Gideon Bibles
from The Gideons
International in SA.