The burden of living with diabetes and the need for empathy

Diabetes, a chronic disease that affects millions of people in Nigeria and other parts of the world, is often referred to as a lifestyle disease, but recent findings show that the majority of people living with diabetes It has been shown that the disease is not caused by lifestyle.

Also, the majority have inherited the disease from their ancestors. This fact is supported by the number of children and young people diagnosed with this disease each year.

Reports indicate that an estimated 85% of all Type 1 diagnoses occur in people under 20 years of age.
For example, the 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report states that approximately 210,000 children and teens under the age of 20 in the United States have diabetes.

Similarly, the incidence of type 1 diabetes among children aged 0 to 14 years in Nigeria has been recorded at 2.9 per 100,000 children per year.
Only two countries in Africa have recorded incidences of type 1 diabetes: Tanzania (0.9 people) and Zimbabwe (0.8 people). The comparative prevalence of European countries is approximately 18.

From 2014 to 2015, doctors diagnosed approximately 18,291 youth between the ages of 10 and 19 with type 1 diabetes and approximately 5,758 youth with type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that the incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing by 1.8 percent each year, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing by 4.8 percent.

Therefore, type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, from infancy to adulthood, but the average age at diagnosis is 13 years.
Therefore, we need to empathize with people living with diabetes, considering the stress, financial, psychological, and physical burden that comes with managing diabetes.

By recognizing their struggles, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for people living with diabetes.

In addition to emotional support, practical empathy is just as important when supporting people living with diabetes.

Society can play an active role by promoting accessible health services, ensuring better insurance coverage, and encouraging workplace accommodations that help individuals manage their conditions. . Simple acts of kindness, such as offering a variety of healthy options at social gatherings, can make a big difference in avoiding exclusion and guilt.

Recently, I took part in the Diabetes Empathy Challenge sponsored by Roche Diabetes Care and spent a day in the shoes of someone living with diabetes.

In this challenge, I spent 24 hours as a type 2 diabetic who was diagnosed two years ago and is on specific self-medication. This includes pre- and post-prandial insulin testing, blood sugar measurements, weight and blood pressure measurements, special diets, exercise, and more.

During the challenge, I was made to wake up by 7am. Check your blood sugar levels measured in mg/dl, measure your weight and blood pressure, and record the results in a treatment application called My Sugr App. This is repeated immediately after breaking the fast, but must be healthy and balanced, with more water and fruit, and may be followed by additional medicines or tablets.

Treatment must not be forgotten and exact procedures and measurements must be strictly followed. Injections are also given in the abdomen and legs and must be properly recorded in the My Sugr app for physician monitoring.

Repeat this step by noon before lunch and exercise after meals, walking at least about 1,800 steps each day. I followed suit, taking an afternoon break until 3 p.m., having dinner until 6 p.m., taking my last test and medication of the day by 10 p.m., and getting up to eight hours of sleep and reviewing my treatment.

This routine is essential for staying alive and cannot be successfully achieved without teamwork, public empathy, and financial support to account for treatment costs.

For me, that’s a hard job to do in one day, and I couldn’t imagine having to do it for the rest of my life, never skipping hours, never missing a meal, and keeping up with my other daily tasks and everything else.

In my experience, diabetes is also known as the silent epidemic, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.

It interferes with daily life and requires careful monitoring of blood sugar levels, strict dietary considerations, and ongoing medication management.

However, the impact extends far beyond these physical aspects, as individuals also deal with emotional and mental health challenges resulting from their condition.

Therefore, it is our duty as a society to foster empathy and understanding for the individuals managing this condition.

By recognizing their struggles, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for people living with diabetes.

First, it is essential to recognize that the mental burden on people living with diabetes is significant. The constant need for self-care, fear of complications, or social stigma can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and even depression.

Empathy in this context means recognizing these emotional conflicts and offering support and understanding.

Creating a safe space for individuals to express their emotions and promoting non-judgmental communication are important steps in developing empathy. Education and awareness efforts are key components to closing the understanding gap.

Encouraging positive conversations can help dispel misconceptions and reduce the stigma around diabetes.

Equipping individuals with knowledge about diabetes and its effects not only builds empathy but also supports early detection and prevention efforts.

In addition to emotional support, practical empathy is just as important when supporting people living with diabetes. Society can play an active role by promoting accessible health services, ensuring better insurance coverage, and encouraging workplace accommodations that help individuals manage their conditions. .

Simple acts of kindness, such as offering a variety of healthy options at social gatherings, can make a big difference in avoiding exclusion and guilt.

Communities and organizations should prioritize creating spaces for people with diabetes to share their experiences, challenges and coping strategies. Peer support groups, online forums, and social media communities can foster a sense of belonging, provide information exchange, and encourage mutual encouragement.

By presenting different stories of resilience, highlighting successes overcoming challenges, and dispelling stereotypes, media can shape public perception and promote a more caring society.

It is essential that we actively work to foster empathy and support for people living with diabetes. The power of empathy lies in the ability to contribute to a society that not only recognizes the challenges faced by people with diabetes, but seeks to advocate for them.

By understanding their experiences, addressing their emotional and practical needs, and promoting inclusivity in our communities, we can create a world that embraces everyone, regardless of their health status.

As Dr. Julian Trochis, a diabetes specialist at the Diabetes Care Center in Cape Gate, South Africa, emphasizes, while proper management requires teamwork, society needs to focus on early detection and support for people living with diabetes. Pocket/friendly medicines should be encouraged.

While lifestyle adjustments can help prevent diabetes, Dr. Trokis has a special interest in diabetic kidney disease and is currently South Africa’s national principal investigator. He urged anyone with potential risk factors to get tested and follow regular self-monitoring of their blood sugar levels, as early diagnosis can save lives.

Source: guardian.ng