Roles of family in combating diabetes

The World Diabetes Day will be observed around the world, including in Bangladesh, on November 14. The day is a worldwide annual campaign. The global diabetes awareness campaign was introduced amidst concern over an escalating diabetes epidemic.

Jointly introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the day is internationally recognised. It was first introduced in 1991. November 14 was selected for celebrating the day, marking the birth of Canadian medical scientist Frederick Banting.   

Banting, co-discoverer of insulin, was born on November 14. He along with another Canadian medical scientist Charles Best discovered insulin. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with passage of an UN Resolution.

The theme for the day this year has been selected as 'The Family and Diabetes'. The day is aimed at raising awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected. According to IDF, efforts would be made to promomote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabestes on the occasion.   

IDF said, "1 in 2 people currently living with diabetes is undiagnosed. Most cases are type 2 diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to prevent the complications of diabetes and achieve healthy outcomes. All families are potentially affected by diabetes and so awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors for all types of diabetes are vital to help detect it early".

Diabetes can be expensive for the individual and family. In many countries, the cost of insulin injection and daily monitoring alone can consume half of a family's average disposable income, and regular and affordable access to essential diabetes medicines are out of reach for too many. Improving access to affordable diabetes medicines and care is therefore urgent to avoid increased costs for the individual and family, which impact on health outcomes.

IDF said, less than 1 in 4 family members have access to diabetes education programmes. Family support in diabetes care has been shown to have a substantial effect in improving health outcomes for people with diabetes. It is therefore important that ongoing diabetes self-management education and support be accessible to all people with diabetes and their families to reduce the emotional impact of the disease that can result in a negative quality of life.

It can be mentioned here that diabetes was selected as the theme of the World Health Day two years back, though there is a provision of observing the World Diebetes Day on Novemeber 14. It indicated that how much much impoartance had been attached to the issue of diabetes.  

There are three matthers, which mainly prompted the WHO to focus on diabetes on the occasion of the World Health Day. The objective included raising awareness about increasing trend of the disease and its dreadful consequsnces on human lives; chalking out specific, effective and cost-saving measures for combating diabetes, which would be helpful for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of diabetes in lower and middle income countries.

  
Ihe other objective was aimed at ensuring monitoring on improvement of health style, helping improve preventive measures and effective management of diabetes. IDF said, over 425 million people are currently living with diabetes. Most of these cases are type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable through regular physical activity, a healthy and balanced diet, and the promotion of healthy living environments. Families have a key role to play in addressing the modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes and must be provided with the education, resources and environments to live a healthy lifestyle.

At the moment, there are over 90 lakh people affected with diabetes in Bangladesh. Every year, one lakh is being added to the list. Experts apprehended that if effective steps to prevent the disease are not taken now, the number of diabetes patient will exceed 55 crore by 2030 in the world.

  
Experts said that a patient can control his/her diabetes through disciplined life-course. Due to lack of awareness, people of all ages are being affected with diabetes, which has become a silent killer. Bangladesh's place is the 10th in terms of diabetes patients in the world.  

About the protection, we can say that certain steps need to be taken to protect people from diabetes. It is needed to ensure timely intake of breakfast. Leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, peanut and coarse grain should be included in the menu. It would help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and complications of diabetes can be avoided.  

    
It is needed to ensure healthy breakfast in order to reduce the risk of diabetes across the world. The risk of type 2 diabetes has increased across the globe as people's habit to take high calorie and non-nutritious foods (fast food) has increased. Intake of foods such as vegetables, fresh fruits and coarse corn can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.          

Maintaining healthy life-course has been stressed for controlling diabetes. Healthy life style means taking healthy foods, exerchise and keeping our mind healthy. Pressure can not be given on mind if we want to keep our mind healthy.  

Holistic system of treatment aimed at prevention and control of diabetes has now become popular around the world. It is a wonderful combination of modern technology and ancient natural system. Healthy food habit and exerchise are the two keys of the holistic system. Intake of nutritious and controlled foods keep people fit.

Before exerchise, meditation through proper method is needed for controlling mind. Stress is the main cause of illness and unhappiness of humans. So, the matter of coping with stress is very important. Holistic treatment has reduced the sufferings of the patients, bringing relief for them. Many affected people now leading a healthy life after reducing the amount of insulin.

The writer is director of Holistic Health Care Centre, Dhaka