The City of Johannesburg is actively engaging with communities to raise awareness and educate them about “Diabetes Mellitus”, a long-term health condition caused by elevated blood sugar levels primarily linked to carbohydrate-rich foods.
The initiative, led by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ennie Makhafola, took place in Tshepisong, Region C, Ward 128, on World Diabetes Day with health practitioners, dieticians, and guest speakers emphasising prevention and management strategies for diabetes.
Key messages from the event:
1. Understanding Diabetes:
– Diabetes occurs when the body produces insufficient insulin, leading to excessive blood sugar levels.
– If unmanaged, it can cause severe complications, including blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and even death.
2. Importance of a Balanced Diet:
– Dietician Veronika Fourie outlined food portion control:
– A small fruit portion.
– A fist-sized serving of starch.
– Generous amounts of vegetables and proteins.
– She stressed maintaining a healthy lifestyle through:
– Nutritious eating habits.
– Regular physical activity.
– Adequate hydration (2 litres of water daily).
– Proper sleep (6-8 hours a night).
– Avoidance of drugs and alcohol, which can exacerbate liver and diabetes-related complications.
3. Health Monitoring and Prevention
– Guest speaker Nonsikelelo Lolwana encouraged regular optometrist visits to detect diabetes-related eye conditions like glaucoma, resulting in complete blindness.
– Dr Wilna Haverman urged spreading awareness about diabetes symptoms and emphasized the importance of men participating in free health screenings at clinics.
“As doctors, we depend on you to spread a word about diabetes out there, letting others know about the signs and symptoms. We all have the ability to reach a hundred years old if we stay healthy also teach our children from an early age to live a healthy lifestyle. Let us use free services and resources from our health facilities. We have power to end Diabetes if we take care of ourselves” she said.
4. Community Empowerment:
– Cllr Makhafola shared her dual perspective as both a politician and former nurse, calling for proactive prevention and lifestyle management.
– She highlighted the availability of social workers and counsellors to support individuals struggling to manage or accept their condition.
Call to action:
The City has a problem of defaulters. Diabetes has to be carefully monitored to give better results. Residents were encouraged to use free healthcare services, monitor their health status, and adopt preventive measures to combat diabetes.
The emphasis was on creating a health-conscious community where individuals support each other to lead healthier, longer lives. The initiative reflects the City’s commitment to addressing one of the leading lifestyle diseases and ensuring better health outcomes for its citizens.
Written by Thembelihle Radebe
18/11/2024
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