Date: 14/11/2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: World Diabetes Day
Speech by the Free State MEC for Health, Mr ST Belot, at the celebrations of World Diabetes Day, Botshabelo Stadium
Programme Director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I am delighted to be able to address this gathering here this morning and would like to express my thanks to the organisers for bringing us all together here this morning to celebrate World Diabetes Day 2006. The theme for today's event focuses on raising awareness of diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, national and international health awareness days such as these serve to remind us all about the importance of taking responsibility for our own lives. The department and its partner for today's event, the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Mangaung, is an example of the way in which we should approach all health issues. Creating partnerships among the community serves to strengthen hands and pool resources in such a manner that it is more easily available and provide expertise where in some cases it was not available.
Programme Director, it is highly likely that all of us know a person with diabetes. Diabetes is a lifestyle illness and one can find three types of diabetes. Type one diabetes usually occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. It usually starts in young people under the age of 30, including very young children and infants, and the onset is sudden and dramatic. People who have type one diabetes must inject insulin to survive. Insulin dosages are carefully balanced with food intake and exercise programmes.
The second diabetes is caused when the insulin, which the pancreas produces, is either not enough or does not work properly. Approximately 85 to 90% of all people with diabetes are type two, and many people who have this condition are undiagnosed. Most type two's are over 40. They are usually overweight and do not exercise. This type two diabetes may be treated successfully without medication. Often loss of weight alone will reduce glucose levels. Eating patterns and exercise play important roles in management. Tablets may be prescribed to help improve control, however, many type two's will eventually use insulin. Although type two is, in itself, not life threatening, in many ways it is more dangerous than type one, as its onset is gradual and hard to detect. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause serious damage to the delicate parts of the body and lead to blindness, heart attack or stroke, kidney failure, impotence and amputation. I need to mention gestational diabetes as it is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Both mother and child have an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.
Programme Director, with this in mind, it is clear that we all need to do our best to not only prevent but provide adequate support and prevention programmes to those suffering from diabetes. It is important that a person is aware of the signs and symptoms, and then should he or she suspect diabetes, go to a primary healthcare clinic or facility for testing to find out what the status is. Only then can the patient then enter into the treatment programme available. Diabetes can successfully be controlled. It is however an illness which requires the individual to take responsibility for his or her own health.
In the Free State, services for diabetic care are available at all primary healthcare clinics and between the periods January to September 2006, 2 676 patients were reported to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and put on treatment; and 137 805 patients are reported to be doing regular follow-up visits to health facilities in the province.
The theme for this year focuses on the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities, especially those who are experiencing difficulties in accessing optimal healthcare either because they are outside the healthcare system or for some reason are less likely to access or are less aware of the services available to them.
Depending on local circumstances, the people who are disadvantaged or vulnerable in terms of access to or the availability of diabetes care will differ. Treatment and medication for diabetics are available free of charge at primary healthcare clinics and today screening services are to be done hereafter.
Programme Director, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology need to be closer to the people and I would like to congratulate the centre for opening its doors here in Botshabelo in the next few months. May the work you do here be fruitful and valuable and contribute to a healthy Free State community.
In closing, may I remind all here today that early detection and treatment is the key to managing diabetes effectively. It is important that the support system of a person with diabetes be fully educated on treatment and support options. It is also important that we focus our attention more on the vulnerable groups in our society such as children and the elderly.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
14 November 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: Belot: World Diabetes Day
Speech by the Free State MEC for Health, Mr ST Belot, at the celebrations of World Diabetes Day, Botshabelo Stadium
Programme Director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I am delighted to be able to address this gathering here this morning and would like to express my thanks to the organisers for bringing us all together here this morning to celebrate World Diabetes Day 2006. The theme for today's event focuses on raising awareness of diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, national and international health awareness days such as these serve to remind us all about the importance of taking responsibility for our own lives. The department and its partner for today's event, the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Mangaung, is an example of the way in which we should approach all health issues. Creating partnerships among the community serves to strengthen hands and pool resources in such a manner that it is more easily available and provide expertise where in some cases it was not available.
Programme Director, it is highly likely that all of us know a person with diabetes. Diabetes is a lifestyle illness and one can find three types of diabetes. Type one diabetes usually occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. It usually starts in young people under the age of 30, including very young children and infants, and the onset is sudden and dramatic. People who have type one diabetes must inject insulin to survive. Insulin dosages are carefully balanced with food intake and exercise programmes.
The second diabetes is caused when the insulin, which the pancreas produces, is either not enough or does not work properly. Approximately 85 to 90% of all people with diabetes are type two, and many people who have this condition are undiagnosed. Most type two's are over 40. They are usually overweight and do not exercise. This type two diabetes may be treated successfully without medication. Often loss of weight alone will reduce glucose levels. Eating patterns and exercise play important roles in management. Tablets may be prescribed to help improve control, however, many type two's will eventually use insulin. Although type two is, in itself, not life threatening, in many ways it is more dangerous than type one, as its onset is gradual and hard to detect. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause serious damage to the delicate parts of the body and lead to blindness, heart attack or stroke, kidney failure, impotence and amputation. I need to mention gestational diabetes as it is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Both mother and child have an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.
Programme Director, with this in mind, it is clear that we all need to do our best to not only prevent but provide adequate support and prevention programmes to those suffering from diabetes. It is important that a person is aware of the signs and symptoms, and then should he or she suspect diabetes, go to a primary healthcare clinic or facility for testing to find out what the status is. Only then can the patient then enter into the treatment programme available. Diabetes can successfully be controlled. It is however an illness which requires the individual to take responsibility for his or her own health.
In the Free State, services for diabetic care are available at all primary healthcare clinics and between the periods January to September 2006, 2 676 patients were reported to be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and put on treatment; and 137 805 patients are reported to be doing regular follow-up visits to health facilities in the province.
The theme for this year focuses on the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our communities, especially those who are experiencing difficulties in accessing optimal healthcare either because they are outside the healthcare system or for some reason are less likely to access or are less aware of the services available to them.
Depending on local circumstances, the people who are disadvantaged or vulnerable in terms of access to or the availability of diabetes care will differ. Treatment and medication for diabetics are available free of charge at primary healthcare clinics and today screening services are to be done hereafter.
Programme Director, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology need to be closer to the people and I would like to congratulate the centre for opening its doors here in Botshabelo in the next few months. May the work you do here be fruitful and valuable and contribute to a healthy Free State community.
In closing, may I remind all here today that early detection and treatment is the key to managing diabetes effectively. It is important that the support system of a person with diabetes be fully educated on treatment and support options. It is also important that we focus our attention more on the vulnerable groups in our society such as children and the elderly.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
14 November 2006
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