Diabetic Care

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

• A condition where the body cannot use glucose properly
• Normally, glucose gets into our body cells using the hormone insulin
• In diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin (Type I diabetes) or does not respond to it, as well as it should (Type II diabetes).
• As a result, less glucose gets into the cells and the blood glucose rises.

Signs and symptoms





* People with type II diabetes may have some or none of these symptoms.


Do I have diabetes?
Your doctor will need to take your medical history, conduct a physical examination and test your blood before diabetes can be diagnosed.

• Fasting blood glucose test
  Diabetes is diagnosed if blood glucose level ≥7.0mmol/L
• Random blood glucose test
  Diabetes is suspected if blood glucose level ≥11.1mmol/L with signs and symptoms
• Oral glucose tolerance test
  Diabetes is diagnosed if the blood glucose level is ≥11.1mmol/L 2 hrs after drinking a 75g glucose solution.

What happens if I don’t take care….
Diabetes can cause blood vessel and nerve damage if uncontrolled over time. These may cause complications like:

• Loss of eye sight
• Disease of the heart and blood flow
• Kidney damage
• Loss of resistance to skin, kidney and other infections
• Impotence in men

Self Care

• Eat regular, healthy meals and do not skip meals
• Take your medication as directed
• Control weight
  • Consult our doctors/pharmacists on how to lose weight
• Exercise regularly (30mins walk daily is ideal)
• Only drink alcohol in moderation
• Go for regular check-ups for blood pressure, blood glucose, kidney and liver functions.
• Foot care
  • wear fitting and comfortable shoes
• Eye care
  • have an eye examination every 2 yrs
• Quit- smoking
  • Consult our doctors/pharmacists for further information.
• Self-monitoring
  • Consult our pharmacist for a simple home-used glucometer so that you can monitor your blood glucose regularly.

Supplements for diabetics or pre-diabetics:

• Alpha-lipoic Acid - able to enhance insulin function and reduce insulin resistance in order to regulate blood glucose and alleviate diabetic neuropathy. E.g. Staywell Lipogel-LA, Glucosential
• Diabegard – Contains bitter gourd seed extract that can reduce blood glucose level through activating the inactive insulin present in the blood and also rejuvenating the pancrease.
• Gymnema - helps to regenerate the insulin-secreting beta cells in pancreas and enhances the production of insulin