What is Diabetes?
Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a common disease whose patients have sustained high blood sugar
levels. Diabetes is due to either inadequate production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas (Type
1 diabetes), or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin that is produced (Type 2
diabetes). In Malawi, up to 7 people in every 100 have abnormal blood sugars that can be classified as
pre-diabetic or diabetic.
Who is at risk?
Studies in Malawi show that some people think diabetes is the disease of the rich people. Those who
have unhealthy eating habit, don’t exercise and are fat or obese are at highest risk of developing
diabetes. Sometimes diabetes is diagnosed during pregnancy among some women. If diabetes is left
untreated it can lead to many health complications. Untreated or poorly treated diabetes kills up to
1.5 million people every year in the world.
How can we avoid the risk?
Prevention of Type 1 diabetesis unknown as a non-functional pancreas can be hereditary or secondary
damage due to trauma or infections. However, Type 2 diabetes which accounts for 85–90% of all cases
worldwide can often be prevented or delayed. Measures such as avoiding overweight, exercising
regularly, and eating a healthy diet are protectives. Effective dietary changes include avoiding sugary
beverages, eating less red meat and other fatty foods. Avoiding smoking tobacco also reduces the risk
of diabetes. A good diet should be rich in whole grains and fibre, and choosing good sources of fats,
such as nuts, vegetable oils, and fish.
Why should you worry about Diabetes?
If diabetes is left untreated it can lead to many health complications. Diabetes damages small blood
vessels to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. In eyes it also increases the risk of
having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems. Damaged kidneys can lead to death. The
damage to nerves causes numbness, tingling, pain, sexual impotence and altered pain sensation
which can lead to damage to the skin including ulcers. Untreated or poorly treated diabetes kills up
to 1.5 million people every year in the world.
What additional good health action should one take?
Having your blood sugar checked once a year even if you feel well and in good health is good practice.
Any abnormal blood sugar reading will help your health worker plan your health care properly without
delay.
Matenda a shuga (Diabetes)
Kodi Diabetes ndi chiyani?
Diabetes, kapena matenda a shuga, ndi matenda omwe odwala amakhala ndi shuga wambiri
m’magazi. Matenda a shuga amayamba chifukwa cha kusoweka kwa mahomoni otchedwa insulin
mu Kapamba (Mtundu Oyamba wa shuga), kapena thupi kulephera kugwiritsa ntchito bwino insulin
yo (Mtundu Wachiwiri wa shuga). Ku Malawi, anthu okwana 7 mwa anthu 100 aliwonse ali ndi shuga
yokwera m’magazi yomwe ingatchulidwe ngati chiyambi cha matenda a shuga kapena matenda a
shuga kumene.
Ndani ali pachiwopsezo?
Kafukufuku wa ku Malawi akusonyeza kuti anthu ena amaganiza kuti matenda a shuga ndi matenda
a anthu olemera. Anthu omwe amadya molakwika, sachita masewera olimbitsa thupi komanso
onenepa kwambiri ali pachiwopsezo chachikulu chotenga matenda a shuga. Nthawi zina matenda a
shuga amapezeka mwa amayi ena ali ndi pakati. Matenda a shuga osachizidwa amatha kuyambitsa
zovuta zambiri. Matenda a shuga osachiritsika ndi osachiritsika omwe amapha anthu okwana 1.5
miliyoni chaka chilichonse padziko lapansi.
Kodi tingapewe bwanji ngoziyi?
Kupewa kwa Mtundu Oyamba wa shuga 1 sikudziwika chifukwa kapamba wosagwira ntchito bwino
amadza chifukwa cha kuwonongeka kwake chifukwa chakuvulala kapena kugwidwa matenda.
Komabe, matenda a shuga a Mtundu Wachiwiri omwe amakhudza anthu 8 mpaka 9 pakhumi la
odwala matendawa padziko lonse lapansi amatha kupewedwa kapena kuchedwetsedwa. Njira ngati
kupewa kunenepa kwambiri, kuchita masewera olimbitsa thupi nthawi zonse, komanso kudya
zakudya zopatsa thanzi ndizoteteza ku matendawa. Kusintha kwa kadyedwe kabwino ndingati
kupewa zakumwa zotsekemera, kucheptsa kudya nyama ndi zakudya zina zamafuta. Kupewa kusuta
fodya kumachepetsanso chiopsezo cha matenda a shuga. Zakudya zabwino ziyenera kukhala ndi
tirigu ndi faiba, komanso mafuta abwino, monga mtedza, mafuta a vejitabo, ndi nsomba.
Chifukwa chiyani muyenera kuda nkhawa ndi Matenda a Shuga?
Matenda a shuga osachizidwa atha kuyambitsa zovuta zambiri. Amawononga mitsempha
ing’onoing’ono ya magazi m’maso, impso, ndi minyewa. M’maso amawonjeza chiopsezo chokhala
ndi glaucoma, ng’ala, ndi mavuto. Impso zowonongeka zimapha. Kuwonongeka kwa minyewa
kumayambitsa dzanzi, kumva kuwawa, kusowa mphamvu zogonana komanso dzanzi lomwe
limaononga khungu kuphatikizapo zilonda zoowo. Matenda a shuga amapha anthu okwana 1.5
miliyoni chaka chilichonse padziko lapansi.
Kodi munthu ayenera kuchita chiyani kuti akhale ndi thanzi labwino?
Kuyezetsa shuga kamodzi pachaka ngakhale osadwala ndi njira yabwino. Mlingo wa shuga m’magazi
umathandiza azaumoyo anu kukonzekera bwino chisamaliro chanu chaumoyo mosazengereza.
Kuwerenga Kwapadera
Info: Malawi Health Weekly.
