When a free quick blood glucose check suggested Dino Baijnath should consult his doctor to screen for diabetes some seven years ago, the busy regional visual manager for a major retail chain and gym enthusiast brushed it off, thinking it was unnecessary.
“I’m very fit, I’ve been working out at the gym for as long as I can remember. I felt absolutely fine, and I thought there was no need to get tested for diabetes because I was a healthy person,” says the man who was nicknamed ‘Die Hard 2’ after surviving septicaemia driven by uncontrolled type 2 diabetes not once, but twice.
“One day in October 2023, I woke up with a fever. I thought it was just a heavy case of the flu and I was in two minds about seeing my General Practitioner, Dr Naven Govender, at Netcare Medicross Edenvale but luckily my colleagues pushed me to go and see him – it probably saved my life.”
Dr Govender explains that diabetes refers to excessive amounts of glucose in the body, commonly referred to as ‘high blood sugar’, owing to the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, which moderates glucose levels, in the case of type 1 diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in childhood. In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot use insulin effectively to reduce glucose levels, which rise in response to the food we eat.
| Pic:Gym enthusiast Dino Baijnath hopes that sharing his life-threatening experience due to undiagnosed type 2 diabetes will encourage others to take control of their health, starting with diabetes checks. He says learning to live with diabetes was a steep learning curve, but now he is healthier than ever managing his condition with support from his GP and the healthcare team at Netcare Medicross Edenvale. |
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Diabetes on the rise globally
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021 noted an 11.3% prevalence rate of diabetes in the adult population in South Africa, amounting to 4.23 million adults living with diabetes.
“Type 2 diabetes involves the person’s body developing resistance to insulin absorption. Type 2 accounts for more than 90% of diabetes diagnoses, and in many cases, it is preventable. Contributing risk factors may include genetic factors, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet. It is concerning to note that type 2 diabetes is also increasingly being diagnosed in children,” Dr Govender says.
“It is estimated that with increasing diabetes rates, one in eight adults worldwide is expected to have diabetes by 2045. These statistics are alarming, making diabetes one of the highest instances of non-communicable diseases in South Africa and the world as a whole.”
“Diabetes further exacerbates the morbidity of the people it affects by increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease three-fold in people living with the disease. Uncontrolled diabetes can have a range of severe health consequences, including inhibiting the body’s capacity to fight infection. In Dino’s case, this increased his risk of developing septicemia, a potentially life-threatening condition, as a complication of pneumonia.
“Type 2 diabetes should not be underestimated. The complications are devastating and can also include cardiovascular disease potentially leading to heart attacks and strokes, vision loss, kidney disease and nerve damage to the lower limbs.”
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Adjusting to life as a diabetic
“If not for my health scare with septicemia, I wouldn’t have discovered I was diabetic, and I wouldn’t be where I am now with managing it. At first, it was not easy to adjust, and learning to monitor my blood sugar and inject myself with insulin was a steep learning curve, but I quickly learnt, and now it has just become a part of my life,” Dino says.
“I have learnt the importance of testing my blood glucose levels consistently, three times a day. Although it took some getting used to, the finger prick isn’t bad ¬– the suspense before you click the lancet is worse, so I get it over with quickly, and I also find it’s less sensitive on the sides of my fingertips.”
“I have also learnt to keep a roll of sweets with me for those times when my blood sugar goes too low, and a lot of helpful tips for injecting myself with insulin. With my exercise and carbohydrate-controlled diet, I don’t have much stomach fat, and at first, I found the injections hurt a bit – but now I have learnt to relax, breathe deeply and how to pinch the skin to make it easier and now I hardly feel it most of the time.
The emotional impact of diabetes
“I don’t try to hide away when I do my insulin injections. Sometimes, people who don’t know better have asked me if I am doing drugs. I choose not to take it as hurtful, but rather see it as an opportunity to educate someone new about diabetes,” Dino says.
Dr Govender points out that a diabetes diagnosis has a mental wellbeing dimension as well. “The emotional toll of the diagnosis cannot be underestimated, as the multiple ‘dos and don’ts’ regarding the management of diabetes and its required lifestyle and dietary changes has a significant impact on the patient, as well as their surrounding support structures,” he says.
“This emotional burden can ultimately determine the person’s ability to remain in control of their diabetes and the resultant long-term complications that follow poor control of this disease. It is really encouraging to see how Dino has embraced his treatment plan as part of his lifestyle and is making good progress. In his regular check-ups, we talk about his progress and try to assist him in living well with his diabetes under control,” Dr Govender says.
“We also test regularly to monitor and manage his risk for developing cardiovascular disease and the other potential health conditions associated with diabetes.”
Dino thanked Dr Govender and the staff of Netcare Medicross Edenvale for their support on his diabetes journey. “I am so grateful. Dr Govender has really been there for me throughout, and the diabetes management clinic helps me stay on track with my regular follow-up appointments,” he says.
Contact your local Netcare Medicross Medical and Dental Centre or visit https://www.netcare.co.za/search?path=medicross_medical_dental to make an appointment with a general practitioner to discuss your health screening needs, including blood glucose testing for diabetes.
“When booking an appointment to screen for diabetes, it is advisable to consider that for the fasting blood glucose test, the patient should not eat or drink anything other than water for 10 hours before for a reliable result,” Dr Govender recommends.
“When you tell someone for the first time that you have diabetes, some people look at you like you are going to die at any minute. I am living proof that being diagnosed can make you healthier and stronger when you learn to adapt – I have gained 12kg of muscle since I was hospitalised a year ago, and my blood sugar is now much closer to target.
“This keeps me motivated, and I hope sharing my experience can help other people to take control of their health, starting with a diabetes check – even if you feel like you are in peak health and fitness, it could ultimately save your life,” Dino concludes.
Need-to-know diabetes facts
General Practitioner Dr Naven Govender, who practises at Netcare Medicross Edenvale, says that for some people, the symptoms of diabetes may be subtle, including the most common symptoms of:
- Thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness
- Poor healing of wounds.
“Those who suspect that they may have diabetes, either through their lifestyle or genetics, should have a relatively inexpensive glucose test. Their healthcare professional can then test further if needed with either a fasting glucose test or a glucose tolerance test to establish a proper diagnosis,” he says.
The diagnosis can either confirm diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, also known as pre-diabetes or that the person is non-diabetic.
“The treatment of type 1 diabetes includes maintaining a controlled diet, including carbohydrate counting, regular exercise and insulin injections. Treatment of type 2 diabetes also includes a controlled diet and regular physical activity, and either oral or injectable medication may be prescribed to help manage the condition.
“People with diabetes should avoid sugary foods and drinks, simple carbohydrates including bread, rice or pasta manufactured from white flour, and food that is fried, especially in trans-fats. Alcohol should also be kept to a minimum,” Dr Govender advises.
“The diabetic diet should mainly consist of whole grains such as whole wheat, oats, brown rice and barley, vegetables and certain fruits, proteins including fish, lean meat, chicken, lentils, beans and certain nuts, and low-fat dairy products. Regular exercise goes together with good dietary control and regular small meals,” he says.
“If you have diabetes, be sure to book regular check-ups with your GP to monitor your condition and adjust your medication if needed. You need not feel alone with diabetes, we are here to support you and to help you remain in control of your health,” Dr Govender says.
Ends
Notes to editors
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