Preventing complications

Q:I am a person with diabetes. I am wondering what steps I might take that will help me reduce some of the health problems that are associated with diabetes?

A: You are asking an extremely important question. In reality, there are a number of different steps that you can take that will help reduce some of the health problems or consequences that are associated with diabetes.

At the outset, you need to understand and appreciate that diabetes is a chronic and progressive disease. What this means is that diabetes is a condition that will always be with you. There is no cure for diabetes at this time. (That’s the official opinion but I hold that much of the diabetes we face in the CNMI can be completely eliminated, but that’s another column). Additionally, diabetes is a disease that can cause a number of different health problems over time. However, diabetes is a manageable disease. By this it is meant that if you take certain steps—which will be discussed later in this column—you will be able to slow down or avoid altogether some of the negative health problems and consequences associated with diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your health care provider certainly has told you of the importance of a proper diet and exercise. Diet and exercise are the foundations upon which all other strategies to reduce potential health problems are built. Proper diet and regular exercise will go far toward warding off or lessening some of the health problems associated with the disease.

Regular and routine monitoring of your blood sugar or glucose levels is also a very important element of reducing health problems associated with diabetes. Additionally, if you have been prescribed medications for your diabetes, it is vital that you take that medication as directed by your doctor and pharmacist.

Diabetes can also have a serious, negative impact on a person’s vision over the long haul. Therefore it is very important for you to have regular eye examinations—at least once a year. By having regular eye exams you may be able to prevent certain problems with your eyes and vision that can result from diabetes. Likewise, you should have regular dental exams as well. Diabetics can have serious dental problems if proper intervention is not undertaken when necessary and needed.

Many people end up with serious circulatory problems because of their diabetic condition. Consequently, in order to prevent more serious problems down the road, you should have your feet checked every single time that you see your doctor. By detecting circulatory and related problems early on, you literally may spare yourself the possibility of having an amputation at some point later on.

Finally, if you are a smoker, you need to quit. Of course, there are a whole host of reasons why you should stop smoking. However, if you are a smoker and a diabetic, you truly are gambling with your life in a very real way. Indeed, the combination of smoking and diabetes will work to markedly shorten your life and will result in your suffering from a wide array of health problems and conditions that otherwise can be avoided.

(David Khorram, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist, and director of Marianas Eye Institute. Questions and comments are welcome. Call 235-9090 or email eye@vzpacifica.net. Copyright © 2006 David Khorram.)