Dr Devarshni Reddy explains more about World Diabetes Day
"One in nine adults have type 2 diabetes..." - Dr Devarshni Reddy.
Today is World Diabetes Day, commemorating and raising awareness about diabetes. It is the biggest diabetes campaign raising awareness around this disease that is faced by so many people worldwide, specifically in South Africa.
Carol Ofori invited Dr Devarshni Reddy, a friend of the show, to share some information about diabetes. Dr Reddy took this opportunity to explain the two types of diabetes that exist.
Dr Reddy said that she learnt that if one's father has type 2 diabetes then a child is eight times more likely to get type 2 diabetes as well.
Dr Reddy explained that Type 1 diabetes is where an individual's pancreas is not producing enough insulin for the body, and therefore, patients take insulin injections.
Then she explained that Type 2 diabetes differs because a person's body has enough insulin, but the cells do not know how to use it. This means the cells cannot use glucose, leaving a higher insulin level in the blood.
Type 2 is regarded as 'lifestyle diabetes' and generally occurs in people who lead an unhealthy lifestyle and do not exercise.
The stats that she revealed shocked Carol Ofori, "In South Africa, diabetes is the second highest cause of death", said Dr Devarshni Reddy.
Watch the video below by Yale Medicine - courtesy of YouTube.
Follow us on social media:
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
- Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
- Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606
- Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Image Courtesy of iStock