Diabetes month was celebrated on 14th November, 2018. Just one sleepless night could increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. One in eight persons has diabetes, a condition where the body does not use insulin or make enough of it, causing blood glucose levels to climb.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where you have little or no pancreatic function; and Type 2 diabetes is based on a lot of factors: genes, climate change and one’s environment.
People often say that if you do not eat so much sugar, you would not have diabetes or controlling your diet and exercise will cure your diabetes. While a proper diet and exercise are incredibly important, diabetes is very complex and very confusing. For some people, you can still do everything right and still get diabetes.
It can also be difficult for a newly-diagnosed person to adjust to the routine dictated by the disease. Often our best way to help a person with diabetes is to directly ask them how you can best give support and provide a sensitive, listening ear. Also recognise that living with diabetes is hard work and be respectful of that person – never jumping to conclusions as to why they have it.