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Posted: 17 Nov 2012 07:07 PM PST

Nerve damage from diabetes is one of the complications of diabetes.

WORLD Diabetes Day (Nov 14) should be a constant reminder that this life-wrecking disease can destroy our lives as well as the lives of our loved ones. It is an irreversible disease, but with enough effort, we can delay or even halt the complications associated with the progression of the disease.

Control of blood glucose levels is paramount in order to minimise complications related to diabetes.

There are about 360 million people around the world who are living with diabetes.

According to the latest Malaysian National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) in 2011, there was an alarming increase of diabetics in our population, from 14.9% in 2006 to 20.8% in 2011, which means about one in five adult Malaysians is a diabetic.

As mentioned above, diabetes is a chronic disease that is incurable, but it can be controlled. Poor blood sugar control over a prolonged period of time will lead to a number of complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, retinopathy (eye damage) and neuropathy (nerve damage).

Numbness, tingling, pain and/or a burning sensation on legs, toes, fingers, arms and hands are symptoms of nerve damage.

Did you know that 60-70% of diabetics have some form of nerve damage? If no immediate action is taken, it can lead to amputation – one of the most potentially serious complications of neuropathy.

Doctors estimate that almost 50% of all amputations are caused by neuropathy and circulatory problems that could have been prevented.

In Malaysia, a large number of diabetes patients are being admitted into orthopaedic wards in hospitals because of diabetic foot complications. The majority of them need long term hospitalisation. Some require repeated hospitalisations and surgery, while others require amputation around the foot or ankle, with some ending up with below knee or above knee amputation.

Amputations in general can be classed as major and minor. Major refers to the above or below the knee amputation whilst minor amputation refers to the removal or toes or feet.

Many of these hospital visits can be prevented through simple foot care routines. Thus all diabetics should have foot check-ups as a part of their regular care routine.

The risk of a leg amputation is 27.7 times greater for a person with diabetes.

Several key factors usually predispose to foot ulceration and ultimately amputation. These include:

·Peripheral neuropathy which reduces sensation – you may have a pebble in your shoe and can walk all day without realising it is there!

·Vascular disease which reduces blood flow to feet.

Together, these problems make it easy for one to get ulcers and blisters – leading to infections, which if left untreated, may lead to amputation.

Diabetics should have a basic awareness of the importance of foot care, and they must ensure that they go for regular foot examinations.

A basic foot care routine includes:

·Inspect your feet and toes daily and wash with mild soap. Strong soaps may damage the skin.

·Test water temperature with your fingers or elbows before immersing your feet because diabetics may not be able to feel if the water is too hot. Burns can easily occur this way.

·Gently dry your feet, paying particular attention to areas between the toes. Infection can develop in moist areas.

·If your foot is very dry, it may crack and possibly become infected. Soften dry skin with lotion, petroleum jelly, lanolin or oil.

·Report all sores, blisters, bruises, cuts, or other changes to your doctor immediately.

The risk for the development of ulceration can be assessed by a basic clinical examination of the foot.

Apart from practising good foot care and hygiene, diabetics should regularly be taking their blood sugar-lowering medications prescribed by their doctor.

A beneficial supplement for diabetics which was discovered by Japanese scientists is mecobalamin – an active form of vitamin B12 that helps regenerate damaged peripheral nerves.

Mecobalamin contains the neurologically active form of vitamin B12 vital to the central and peripheral nervous system that helps to protect against the degeneration as well as promote healthy nerves.

With mecobalamin, the liver does not need to convert the inactive form of B12, cyanocobalamin, to mecobalamin as it is already orally active.

Research has shown that this active form of vitamin B12 (mecobalamin) is more effective than the common vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) in regenerating damaged nerves in diabetics.

References:

1. Malaysian Diabetes Association

2. National Health & Morbidity Survey 2006, MOH

3. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) of the National Institute of Health, USA

4. Diabetes UK

5. American Diabetes Association (ADA)

6. Yaqub BA, Saddiq A, Sulimani R. Effects of methylcobalamin on diabetic neuropathy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 1992;94(2):105-11

This article is courtesy of Live-well Nutraceuticals. For more information, please consult your pharmacist or call Live-well INFOline: 03-6142 6570 or e-mail info@livewell2u.com. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

Matters of the gut

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 07:06 PM PST

Teaching your children good eating habits will definitely benefit them in the long run.

YOUR child's digestive system is an amazing system of processes that have a significant impact on his overall health. It converts food into nutrients that nourish the body's cells. When the cells are healthy and functioning well, your child will be able to think, move, play, and learn well.

Your child's digestive system plays a major role in his immune system; an unhealthy digestive system can cause your child to suffer gastrointestinal problems, and he will also be more susceptible to major diseases.

When your child eats something that does not agree with him, he may experience symptoms of stomach discomfort, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, or vomiting.

These days, it is becoming more common for young children to have stomach upsets as a result of poor eating habits. Hence, it is essential that your child develops the right eating habits.

It is easy for your child to develop unhealthy dietary habits during and after school hours. They are more likely to do so after school when they participate in extracurricular activities such as sports practice, and especially at social events with peers.

Parental supervision or guidance in choosing the right food is extremely helpful in avoiding digestive problems that may start at a young age.

Here are some tips to help you mould your child's eating habits:

Parents being good role models

Parents should lead the family in developing healthy eating habits. Good eating habits will include having lots of vegetables and fruits, taking regular meals, and avoiding excessive fatty food. Involve your child in food preparation

Get your child involved in the preparation of family meals. He can help choose vegetables, fruits, meats, and fish at the markets. He can also see the various ingredients used in the preparation of the meals and it will encourage him to eat the meals that he has helped prepare.

In this way, your child will learn much more about healthy nutrition.

Stocking healthy foods and drinks

Stock up your kitchen cabinet and fridge with healthy foods and snacks, such as wholemeal bread, whole grain cereals, fruits, yogurt, milk, and soya bean drinks. This enables them to consume healthy-choice foods.

Have family meals together

There are many benefits if the family can eat together during meal times. Home-cooked food is usually a healthy selection as there are no unhealthy additives. Practise good hygiene

Good personal hygiene at meal times is important, and parents can emphasise the need for cleanliness to their children by getting them to wash their hands before eating. This good habit should be developed as it certainly reduces the likelihood of food poisoning and digestive problems.

Exercise works

Encourage your child to perform physical activities in school and at home. Taking part in sports or games is an excellent way to keep the bowels moving, to improve appetite, and to prevent overweight and obesity.

Drink plenty of water

Your child should be encouraged to drink plenty of water as this will help prevent constipation and also improve digestion. On hot days, or after strenuous exercise, increased sweating requires more water to replace lost bodily fluids.

Ingesting probiotics

Probiotics are a unique form of food supplements which contain large amounts of "good" bacteria which are especially beneficial for the digestive system. They are found in foods such as yoghurt and cultured milk drinks. When taken in adequate amounts they help the intestines digest food, reduce constipation, and prevent abdominal discomfort.

Try to keep all the tips above in mind, and remember, you are what you eat. Not only does good health start with good nutrition, it is a habit that you should encourage in your children from young.

Datin Dr Liew Yin Mei is a consultant physician and member of the Digestive Health Advisory Board. The author is not associated with and does not endorse any brands or products. For a free digestive health info guide or more information, please contact 03-5621 1408.

A good start

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 07:04 PM PST

It's an indisputable fact that breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day.

WHAT do you want to achieve when you wake up every day? You want to jump out of bed, move the metaphorical mountain, and basically get things done efficiently and productively, dodging mental roadblocks and physical challenges.

A freshly prepared breakfast helps set the mood and tone of your day – it's not only important for your body to be able to receive nutrients after an eight hour fast during sleep, but a good breakfast allows your mind to be alert and stay alert throughout the day.

Remember, "A hungry man is a cranky man!"

So what constitutes a "good" breakfast? A "good" breakfast is a combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and of course, fluids. Go easy on the oil, sugar and salt and you'll be fine. And you definitely need more than an apple a day if you're going to keep the doctor away.

Here's what you need to know about your body's nutritional wants and needs – carbohydrates are the body's primary energy source. This is digested into glucose (blood sugar), which provides the fuel for cells, tissues and organs, and is also used for physical energy. Carbohydrates help power your day.

Protein provides the building blocks that your body needs, and increases that feeling of "fullness" in your stomach, thus reducing mid-morning hunger.

Eggs are an excellent choice of protein at breakfast, as it is a complete protein source with all the nine essential amino acids the body needs.

Did you know that a large egg only contains 75 calories and 212mg of cholesterol – this represents six grams of high quality protein.

An easy source of fibre, vitamins, minerals and water can be found in fruits or vegetables. Medical research has found that a glass of orange juice a day increases "good" cholesterol, which is great for the heart. It is also a good source of potassium, which has been shown to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

Remember, juice is a better choice (compared to water) when you open your fridge doors in the morning.

Studies have also found that people who eat breakfast tend to consume more fruit and vegetables throughout the day, which means that good habits beget good habits.

If you eat a good breakfast regularly, you will also develop a tendency to consume fewer calories during the day – which is a significant component for weight loss – while also maintaining better overall health, improving mood, concentration and alertness.

The benefits of a morning meal are limitless.

Children who eat breakfast perform better at school, with the combination of the right foods boosting cognitive energy and capacity.

A good breakfast also provides children with up to 25% of the daily requirement for key nutrients for their growing bodies while establishing good and healthy lifelong habits.

No matter your age, the case for breakfast is clear.

When you start the day with a freshly prepared breakfast everyday, you are giving your body a great start to each brand new day and giving yourself the opportunity to achieve great things.

And there is nothing like sitting down to a delicious breakfast each morning.

Wake up to a healthy start and begin your day with a zest for life, a positive attitude, a cheerful smile... and a freshly prepared breakfast.

A very good morning to you Malaysia!

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 18 November 2012

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health

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