Nurses make the difference in the fight against diabetes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.6 million deaths annually are attributed to diabetes with the majority being from low and middle-income countries. Senior Nurse Joyce Gitangu, the Nurse in Charge at AAR Sarit Outpatient Centre, offers insight into the disease and the role of nurses in the treatment and management as the world commemorates Diabetes Awareness Month in November.

A visibly distraught father checks into an outpatient centre with his teenage son in tow insistent that his son gets checked for HIV as he has drastically
lost weight within the past two months. He is convinced that his son could have possibly contracted the virus given the kind of company he keeps. He is received by nurses who, after initial tests, refer him to the lab for a blood sugar test to ascertain the cause of the weight loss. Upon testing, it was found that the patient’s blood sugar levels were extremely high requiring admission to a hospital where he was given treatment to lower his blood sugar.

Further tests revealed that he was suffering from type 1 diabetes. After discharge from the hospital, he was assigned a nurse to follow up care and
to ensure adherence to treatment and medical advice. This is just one of the many cases of diabetes that Nurse Gitangu has come across in her 11
years at AAR Healthcare and unfortunately the numbers are rising and worrying. According to her, this is because there is still a challenge
when it comes to awareness of the disease. To enlighten you about the disease, Nurse Gitangu answers the most commonly asked questions.

What is diabetes disease?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

There are three types of the disease.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetic factors and autoimmune diseases where the body’s immunity fights and destroys the insulin-producing cells.
Its cause and prevention are unknown.

Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s inability to use insulin effectively. The majority of people with diabetes have type 2. This type of diabetes is largely
the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.

Then there is Gestational diabetes, which occurs when high blood sugar is first identified during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes complicates the pregnancy and delivery and so we normally advise mothers to have their blood sugar monitored during their pregnancy.

What symptoms should people be on the lookout for?
For type 1 and type 2, most of the symptoms are similar and include frequent urination, increased thirst, increased appetite coupled with weight loss, changes in vision and fatigue. If you have a family history of diabetes
or obesity, it is also important to get your blood sugar level checked regularly.

What is the role of nurses in the treatment and management of diabetes?
Nurses play a critical role when it comes to advising patients on their diet and how to keep physically active. We discuss lifestyle risks such as smoking and alcohol intake and other risky behaviours, advising the patients on how to manage them. We also walk with our patients to ensure they collect their medications regularly and that they are up to date with their lab tests. In addition, we recommend and administer vaccines such as the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine for diabetic patients. This is why it is important for nurses to be equipped with knowledge on prevention, treatment and diabetes-related complications.

What are some of the challenges medics face in the management of
diabetes?
There are several misconceptions surrounding diabetes that make some people shy away from seeking treatment. For instance, when there’s drastic weight loss, one might stay in the house to avoid the stigma surrounding HIV. Sometimes, when someone develops slow-healing wounds, it may be termed as witchcraft and may make them avoid treatment. It’s important for people to know that diabetes is manageable and seek treatment as it not only affects the individual but also their family.

How can the general public get involved in the fight against diabetes?
For starters, parents need to provide their kids with a blueprint for healthy living by ensuring that they eat right and ensure physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily. The government also needs to put in place policies that support healthy living as well as create awareness. As AAR Healthcare, our contribution is in offering quality treatment for diabetics, monitoring their treatment and encouraging our other patients to get regular screening for diabetes. We also carry out medical camps in the community periodically to raise awareness through health education, conducting tests and offering nutritional advice.