Botswana among the most affected by diabetes

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 16, 2010 00:00

Dipesalema Joel, a Specialist Paediatric Endocrinologist at Princess Marina Hospital, told Mmegi in an interview yesterday that this year, about 44,000 people in Botswana are estimated to be living with diabetes. This number represents a prevalence rate of 4.1%.

He said that this year, over 284 million people, with a prevalence rate of 6.4%, live with diabetes worldwide. He says there is evidence that these rates are increasing due to a sedentary lifestyle and obesity.

He says that there are two types of diabetes; type one diabetes, most common among people aged 10 and 14 years. The cause for this type is unknown. However, he says that there is evidence that the immune system among these people becomes very strong to an extent that it ends up damaging the pancreas, while it fights bacteria and viruses in the body.

The second; type two diabetes is common among adults, which are people above 21 years of age.

He says that in adults, the pancreas fails to produce insulin that is enough for the body. A good supply of insulin from the body mobilises the production of glucose from the blood to the muscles. Then glucose produces energy for the body. He says that should the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood with very little utilisation by the muscles and consequently leads to a person producing symptoms of a diabetic person.

'Common symptoms of someone who could be type one diabetic are frequent urinating and drinking of water a lot.

This is because when the blood sugar is high, it is excreted into the kidney, and then it pulls a lot of water from the body because it is not supposed to be in the urine in the first place. It is excreted there only if there is too much of it in the blood. So the person urinates a lot and drinks a lot immediately to replace it,' he said.

He said that another symptom of type one diabetes is loss of weight because the body cannot mobilise sugar from the blood to the muscles. The person then feels tired at most times and could vomit. Joel says that even though these symptoms are mainly for type one diabetes, they can also be found in people with type two diabetes. However, people with type two diabetes do not present any symptoms in many instances. 'They can present no symptoms but would know by going for check ups at clinics, hospitals and general practitioners,' he said.

However, type two diabetes presents itself by a heart attack or stroke, he said.

This happens when one has stayed for a long time not knowing that they have diabetes.

He says that it is very important that people go for annual tests because diabetes can cause a lot of harm to the body. It can lead to damaged blood supply to the eyes and consequently cause blindness. It can lead to kidney failure. Damaged blood supply to the heart could lead to heart attacks. One can also develop ulcers under their feet, which could lead to amputation. Joel says that there are two diabetic clinics at Princes Marina Hospital that are open to people for consultation once a week.

An Adult Diabetic clinic is open every Wednesday, while a Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetic Clinic is open to people under 21 years of age every Thursday. The children's clinic sees 30 to 40 children every month while 80 to 120 people visit the adults' clinic every month.

Joel advises that prevention is always better than cure, saying that it is better if people change their lifestyles by exercising more and changing their eating habits.

'Avoid refined foods. Sugary foods lead to type two diabetes. It is better you eat vegetables and fruits,' he said.