DIABETES treatments are getting better but unless it is diagnosed early, the disease will continue to contribute a significant cost to our health, our health system and our health budget, according to Dr James Ryan, Consultant Endocrinologist at Mater Private Hospital Cork.
Nearly 150 people attended a public information lecture on Diet and Exercise for Diabetes at Mater Private Cork, hosted by Dr Ryan and his team, ahead of World Diabetes Day on Thursday 14th November.
The attendees, many of whom are living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, received expert advice on how best to manage their diets with a recommendation to exercise regularly.
Dr James Ryan said: “The good news story is that our treatments are a lot better. Diabetes is no longer the leading cause of adult onset blindness for the first time in over fifty years. The incidence of cardiac events in patients with diagnosed diabetes is also decreasing for the first time. So, our treatments are getting so much better. The purpose, really, is to provide more awareness of the disease and make people aware that early diagnosis is not a bad thing. It’s actually a great thing that we can be more aggressive about our treatment of Diabetes and lead to less complications meaning less need to attend hospitals, less cost in our health care budget, and better outcomes for everybody involved.”
Education is paramount in the management of Type 1 Diabetes and understanding the importance of carbohydrate-counting when dosing insulin. Eliminating variables in blood sugars prevents too many hypoglycaemic episodes and further complications.
In Type 2 Diabetes, the early detection of the disease is crucial along with access to education for Diabetes self-management and choosing healthy unprocessed low Glycaemic Index foods.
Weight management for patients with Type 2 Diabetes is important with a view to targeting a loss of approximately 5% of their bodyweight. Exercise increases insulin-sensitivity and is therefore most effective for insulin-resistance in Type 2.
Dr James Ryan, the Diabetes Nurse Specialist Alison McCaffrey and the team of Dietitians at Mater Private Cork offer a comprehensive range of services to patients living with or newly diagnosed with Diabetes.
For queries please contact the Diabetes Nurse Specialist, Alison McCaffrey, by email on Alison.McCaffrey@materprivate.ie or call 021 6013328.
