HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-07-16, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 16,1997
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Living with diabetes and taking control
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
You hiive control.
This is the way Nelva Scott of Brussels puts her disease in
perspective. Ten years ago Nelva was diagnosed with
diabetes and from the offset has retained a positive outlook on
living with this metabolic disorder.
Normally, the food consumed by individuals is broken down
into small units that are used as energy and as building
materials for the body. The main source of that energy is
glucose or sugar, which must pass from the intestines, through
the blood and into the cells. In people with diabetes, the
insulin which allows the glucose to move into those cells isn't
functioning properly. The glucose stays in the blood causing
blood levels to rise and the unused glucose to spill into the
urine.
There are three forms of diabetes, Type 1, which is
childhood diabetes, Type II, found in adults, and gestational,
which occurs during pregnancy and often develops after.
Every person has a certain quantity of sugar in their blood,
usually in the range of 100 mg/dL or 5.5 mmol/L.
Nelva considers herself to be one
of the "lucky ones". She explains that
the first method of treatment is
proper diet and an exercise regimen.
If this fails the next step is
medication, then, for the more severe
cases, insulin injections.
When Nelva was first discovered to
have diabetes it wasn't particularly a
surprise. As Type II diabetes is
hereditary and her maternal
grandmother had had it, she had been
tested regularly. Diet and medication
were prescribed, in the beginning.
"Then," she said, "when Dr. Wong
came to town, he got me to lose some
weight, increase my exercise and
weaned me off the medication. I have
been pretty good since."
Upon diagnosis today, diabetics are
immediately referred to a dietician
and nurse educator, Nelva says.
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"These are optional classes, but
education is the key to control so
I don't know why anyone
wouldn't go. If you’re not aware
of what's happening with this,
then you're not going to be
looking after yourself as well as
you could be."
Nelva was thrilled to hear that
the Ministry of Health has
recently approved funding in the
amount of $160,050 for Huron-
Perth. This will be used to
establish one-day a week
diabetes centres at the counties'
seven smaller hospitals and a
five-day a week centre at
Stratford effective this October.
"I feel we are really fortunate,"
says Nelva.
What diabetics need to learn is
how to monitor their blood and
how to make the right choices.
Nelva explains, using two bottles
of salad dressing as examples.
While the low-fat dressing
obviously is better for anyone on
a diet than calorie-wise, due to
the fat content, the glucose was
higher and therefore not the best
choice for a diabetic.
Nelva says that while
following Canada's Food Guide
may be the right path for most
people, diabetics use a poster
from the Canadian Diabetes
Association. The dietician lists
the number of selections from
each food category the diabetic
can consume daily.
What makes the diabetics
guide different from the Canada
Food Guide is such
things as potatoes,
listed as starch
rather than as vegetables. Also the poster shows
how much sugar is in each food product when it
breaks down. As well, it also lists "extras", which
Nelva refers to as the "food I live on". These are
primarily vegetables, particularly green ones.
Being diabetic does not mean preparing
different meals for the others in the family. Not
only can someone who doesn't have diabetes
enjoy diabetic recipes, they will probably do quite
well on them. Nelva says she does cook up pies
for her husband Spence, then laughs, adding that
it's really not a problem, because she's never cared
for pie.
Ice cream and licorice, however, are another
story, as they are Nelva's favourites. She said that
just a small piece of licorice is equivalent to the
amount of jam you would put on toast. "If I used
that as my sugar serving, then I have to think what
am I going to do with the rest of the bag. I'd
probably eat it, so I just don't buy it."
Exercise is another aspect of Nelva's treatment
that she has not just accepted but embraced. For
one hour, four times a week she attends classes in
40 East Street, Goderich 519-524-6651222 Josephine Street, Wingham 357-3466
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either aquatics or aerobics.
As if that weren't enough, this past fall she completed a
course from the University of Western Ontario's faculties of
Kinesiology and Medicine, then following 12 hours of
observation and 16 hours of teaching received her certification
as a senior fitness instructor. She now teaches a class for
diabetics every Wednesday morning.
First approached about taking the course by the co-ordinator
of Town and Country Homemakers, for which she and Spence
donate their time, Nelva, with her verve and desire to give to
others, never missed a beat. She did however, have a
moment's apprehension when she got there. "I was the only
short, fat lady there. I tell you I was frightened."
With diet and exercise keeping her diabetes in check, Nelva
need only check her blood sugar, which she does with a
glucometer, daily. She also keeps a diary, which supports any
treatment she receives, by making the doctor or dietician
aware of problems.
If blood sugar becomes too high, the diabetic may
experience hypoglycemia. This can lead to loss of
consciousness or diabetic coma. Nelva's been able to maintain
a good level. "My goal is to keep it around 6. With diabetes if
you don’t get it under control, and there are people with blood
sugar levels as high as 23, or if it remains elevated for long
periods, there is the risk of damage to eyes, kidney, heart and
blood vessels."
Nelva says, that while there will always be exceptions, she
believes that in most cases diabetes can be controlled rather
than controlling. "Most people today want to take care of
themselves. Younger people are more in tune with living
healthy and 50, 60, 70-year-olds are discovering they can
make changes to improve their lives and are doing it."
Another big influence has been the BMG Diabetic Project
begun with the assistance of Public Health Nurse Marguerite
Thomas and Betty Graber RN. This group meets once a month
and Nelva urges anyone interested in being part to contact her
or Doug Fraser, also of the Brussels area.
"The main thing I think of with this disease is that there's a
lot worse ones to have. With diabetes you have control and by
having a handle on it, can live a very long, productive life.
Vincent's Country Market
(formerly D & P Meats)
across from the Post Office
Frozen Foods
You can have the meal you want at the price
you will like
at the convenience of your own freezer
*—-J This week
Keg Steaks reg. $4 50 now $4.00
Garden Mixed Vegetables 2 lb. bag $2.75
Hadock $7.50/1.5 lb.
Phone 357-4499 Josephine St., Wingham
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