I recently started my rotation in the Internal Medicine department of the teaching hospital I work with, and I observed that most of our patients were brought in with complications of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and kidney problems. Sadly, some patients come having all three conditions and even more. I will write on all these one at a time, starting with diabetes.
Diabetes is not a new term. Every one of us is either aware of it, living with it or aware of someone that lives with it. It is a condition that occurs when there is an impairment of the normal processes in the body that regulates food breakdown, leading to higher than normal levels of sugar in the blood with insufficient insulin levels to combat it.
Diabetes is so common and, like hypertension, is a silent killer. Most of the cases we see on the wards or in the emergency room come with severe complications and they get to find out, for the very first time in their lives, that they have diabetes. How crazy is this?!
Please, do well to check your blood glucose levels regularly, especially if you:
- have people living with diabetes in your family
- have a high blood pressure
- are obese
- are male
- are well over middle-age
- are from African or Afro-American descent
- live a sedentary lifestyle
- don't eat clean.
It is very important to be in the know about your blood glucose status. It's always better to find these things out before they start causing serious problems, so you can get the necessary care and live the best quality of life possible.
This is just an introduction to the post, which should be out pretty soon. (It should have been out already but work has been crazy busy 🥺) There we'll get to learn about one of the most common and most dreaded complications of diabetes mellitus, which is Diabetic Foot Ulcer.
Till then, please continue to take care of yourself and make the best decisions for your health. I care about you and your health and I'll keep playing my part to keep you updated with these pertinent tips. Take care and be good to your body.
Love,
The Writing Doctor.