Diabetes cannot be cured but it can be managed – says GDA President

Aug 26, 2018 News

“You will never be a diabetic survivor; you will die from the complications of the disease at some point.”
This is the firm assertion of Ms. Glynis Alonzo-Beaton, who herself is living with diabetes, a disease which she said has the potential of affecting just about every part of the anatomy.
Essentially diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood. According to health experts, insulin produced by the pancreas is known to lower blood glucose. However, when insulin is absent or there is insufficient production or the body is unable to properly utilise insulin, diabetes is the result.
And according to Alonzo-Beaton the impact of diabetes is far-reaching.
“Diabetes causes depression, its affects the heart, it affects the pressure, liver, nerves, kidneys; the entire body,” she asserted.
Given the fact that once an individual develops the disease there is no cure, Alonzo-Beaton who heads the Guyana Diabetic Association [GDA] said that diabetics must make a conscious effort to not only safeguard their health as far as possible but also seek to live fulfilling lives.
“You have to ensure that you live a very good life. Your life must have quality and you must test, and re-test and you must educate and you must medicate,” said Alonzo-Beaton, who also holds other diabetes advocacy position such as Chairperson for the North America and Caribbean Region and the Deputy Chair for the Young Leaders in the Diabetes at the International Diabetes Federation [IDF].
According to Alonzo-Beaton, although some diabetics may find that the disease may go into remission, they should not see this as a gateway to being cured.
“You cannot at any one time stop and decide I have been delivered. No you haven’t been delivered! Its either it gives you a little honeymoon and then it comes back with a vengeance and while it is honeymooning and is on its way back, it is damaging body parts,” Alonzo-Beaton made clear.
Having been subjected to the impact of the disease, she disclosed that at some point in a diabetic’s life, he or she may be overwhelmed with the desire to quit their medication and embrace the idea that they could be miraculously cured of the disease. Such a move, she emphasised, should never be the way to go.
“You always have to remember I have to live with it, but believe that even with the disease you can live a comfortable life, and to do, so you must be able to manage your diabetes,” said Alonzo-Beaton.
But in light of the fact that diabetics need support along the way, the GDA President said that not only those inflicted, but those supporting as well, must ensure that they are well educated when it comes to the disease.
“We cannot say it is the person’s lifestyle causing them to have the disease, because this is not so in all cases. For some people the disease is caused by their genes, and no matter how they try their best to prevent it, as they age they will develop the symptoms, whether they like it or not,” Alonzo-Beaton underscored.
“Yes, the way people eat is important in helping to prevent diabetes, but there are so many people who look at their diet and at their exercise routines and still they are faced with diabetes,” she added. However, with education, persons will undoubtedly have a better understanding of the disease.
“Education, no matter how you twist it or turn it, is the key, and diabetes has to be looked at as a threat to our working force. If they get it, the best way to treat it, is to have them better managed in order to have more man hours from them,” she noted.

Latest News

Diabetes cannot be cured but it can be managed – says GDA President

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

FL Sport provides financial boost to Guyana U-15 quartet

Guyanese golfers Hussain, Arjune to attend 2025...

Quarterfinal showdowns set in Milo/Massy U18...

Lusignan Golf Club: A Premier Destination for...

Paul misses century as Red Force trail by 122

National 9-Ball Pool championship cues off today

Features/Columnists

Mashing an ants’ nest

The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation

Relax, fellow Guyanese

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Diabetes cannot be cured but it can be managed – says GDA President

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 11th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]