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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-11-27, Page 18INCOHPOR ATI Ni(; -T E; HLYTH STANDARD -THE BAYFIELD QUGLE SECOND SECTION WE]DI`TESIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985 Education classes and clinic offered inarea The key to diabetes control is knowledge. The more diabetics know about their condi- tion, the better they can cope with it. In Huron County diabetics are offered educa- tion classes as well as clinics. According to Barbara Guse, a dietician at the Clinton and Goderich hospitals, monthly clinics are offered at the Exeter, Seaforth, Clinton and Goderich hospitals. "It's a two day program that deals with nutrition and the medical aspects," she said. During the classes, diabetics are inform- ed on what diabetes is, how to give Diabetes —The medical aspects Editor's note: The doctor consulted for the facts in .this story wished to remain nameless. Diabetes. What is it, how do you get it, how do you treat it, can it be cured? 1 con- dition, betheart problems r iperson is iprmsor dleedwith diabetes, common questions 'pop into their minds as well as a little panic. But in this day and age, if it isn't cureable, it is probably con- trollable. . Today there is no cure for diabetes and those in the medical profession don't see a cure in the .foreseeable future. However, with proper diet, exercise, medication and education, a person with diabetes can carry on a realitively normal life. Diabetes is "the.inability to use sugar effi- ciently and having too much sugar in the blood," explaind a medical source. "People of all ages can get diabetes." He went on to explain that a certain percentage of the diabetics inherit the disease while others don't. • In a non-diabetic, the • pancreas secretes the hormone insulin which helps break down carbohydrates so the body can use them for energy. When the non-diabetic eats car- bohydrates, insulin is ejected from the. pan- creas to meet the intake.. In a diabetic, not enough insulin is releas- ed by the pancreas, therefore the car- bohydrates, or sugar, accumulates in the $ body, building up in the. blood and spilling over into the urine. The control of this. disorder can be clone one of four ways, or a combination of ways. "An old antidote was D - I- E - T. D is for diet alone, I for insulin, E for exercise and '1' tot training. "Everyone should goon a diet," explained the doctor, adding the eatting of pies, cakes .- and sweet food should be •eliminated com- pletely because a person can get enough sugar from fruit. ' A person can get enough nutrition from eating other food, they don't need that." ' ti The I stands for insulin which most diabetics take. After taking the insulin, the diabetic must eat the proper amount of car- bohydrates to meet the insulin shot. If not enough carbohydrates are eaten, a diabetic runs the danger . of insulin shock. The' op- posite, too much sugar, c,ak result in a ' diabetic coma. The amount of exercise a diabetic does has a direct bearing on the amount of insulin required. Exercise burns up insulin," explained Vie doctor. "A ball player would cut down on the aniount of insulin used if he was going to be playing, and use more if he was lying around." . T stands for training. •"The ideal diabetic is one who knows as much t about diabetes I as the doctor. They know when and how to adjust the amount of insulin and look after infections properly," ' the doctor said. The infections mentioned include foot and eye problems. Diabetics have a higher risk of infection at an .earlier stage in their life than non -diabetics. 'i'heir chances of having heart attacks are also increased. According to a pamphlet put, out by the Canadian Diabetes Association, "a diabetic must 'be much rnor'e aware of the condition of his feet or he may develop various pro- blems with them earlier in life than non - di abetics. These problems include cir- culatory and nerve disorders, and an,in- creased risk of infections that don't heal well. When these problems are not recogniz- iii ed, gangrene, and even amputations, may. result "It seems probable that long periods of elevated blood sugars and poor diabetes control may be responsible in pail . for these difficulties..." Two Groups There are basically two groups of diabetics - those who are insulin dependent and those who don't use insulin. Generally, the insulin dependent group consists Of teenagers or younger people, while the Gilder diabetics fall under the second category. { 'The approach to each h group is dif- ferent." the doctor stated. "When we' first get the younger renes, they are often sick and iia,' be admitted to the hospital where they are started on insulin. ie ono, case, the another gets involved with controlling the diet, weight control is also advised. They are instructed in the use Insulin and a needle are eonsnnon to diabetics. The routine of injections with the medica- tion maybe needed+once or several tines a day. (Anne Narejko photo) of insulin endthetraining." The older diabetic is usually overweight and is told to lose weight. If they are treated with insulin, the fat will absorb it, forcing the use of a higher dosage. New Equipment Hesearci i for diabetes has resulted in up- 10-udu eeluipuletil Will programs wutcu assist the diabetics obtain both better care and better equipment. According to a medical source, glucometers have been on the market for at least , two years. The machinery helps diabetics check their blood sugar level'w•ith immediate feedback, This allows the diabetic to adjust the amount of insulin thy .need. , "When the glucometers first carne out o diabetics they cost $400• Not many . f the c is c could afford them, but over the last year the price has dropped to approximately $200...A lot of them still can't afford to pay that much, so the government is now involved in a .program to make the glucometers more available," said the doctor. • The Monitors for Children Program was launched in London on October 12 with the help of Premier David Peterson. The provincerwide program is aimed at helping Ontario's 15,000,diabetics who are under the - age of 20. The program is headed by Dr. Merrill Ed- monds, chief oa endocrinology and metabolism at Victoria Hospital, London, and will provide money for diabetics to buy equipment to accurately rrionitor their blood sugar levels at home. The program is operating on a yearly pro- vincial grant of $500,000 and will allow those under 20 years of age to buy the machines and $15 in accessories needed each Week to do the tests. The tests are relatively simple. le. The diabetic pricks his'finger to get a blond sam- ple and then wipes. it on a test strip. The, stripe is then read by, the machine, telling the level of sugar in the blood. During the first year, Dr. Edmonds hopes to enrol 2,000 of the possible 15,000 diabetic youth who make up 10 per cent of the 450,000 diabetics in Ontario. The possibility of offer - Diabetes can be treated in a number of ways. At a local drug store, chased to aid diabetics with their in the treatment. (Anne Narejko pills. swabs, rubbing alcohol, syringes and urines tests can be pur- photo) tog the program to groups, Jucu a, ,conn, is now being researched. Complications If.diabetics watch their diet and take tllet prescribed. medication, very few connplica tions should arise. However, when • a diabetic is pregnant, she should be extra careful. When controlled, diabetes has little harni- ful effect on the fetus but danger could arise from repeated high blood sugar levels. If the mother has controlled her diabetes well throughout the , pregnancy, I he likelihood of having a non-diabetic baby is the same as that of a non-diabetic mother. However, birth' defects are twice as com- mon in babies of„diabetic mothers if the diabetes is poorly controlled during the first three months of the pregnancy. Also, if the sugar levels are high during the last three months'of pregnancy, the babies of diabetic mothers will usually be big at birth. usually over 10 pounds. • The cure to diabetes could be an artifical pancreas, but until the day this is developed, diabetics will have to watch their lifestyle and monitor their sugar level. themselves a needle and what a proper diet consists of. An information package on all aspects off diabetes is also handed out to the diabetics. The booklets and pamphlets cover everything from treating diabetes to the use of alcohol and what to do when you are preg- nant and have diabetes. The Goderich Lioness also sponsor an open house for diabetics at McKay Hall the third Monday of each month. "This is an opportunity for them to get together and talk to other diabetics,” com- mented Mrs. Guse. The Canadian Diabetes Association September was designated Diabetes Awareness Month and November is the month for canvassing. According to Mrs. Guse, they have received a poor response in getting people to canvass and to donate. "People who know what diabetes is, donate, but others don't," said Mrs. Guse, who also explained that the awareness rnonth was held to inform the public in hopes that they would donate their time or money .during November. The money that is donated to the Cana- dian Diabetes Association goes towards: - providing information programs for the public on the incidence, symptoms and con- trol of diabetes. - providing counselling clinics for the newly diagnosed diabetic and a wide range of in- formation and specialized social services for all those who live with diabetes, such as summer camps for diabetic children. - assisting with educational programs for health professionals on various aspects of the diabetic condition, such as, diet, exer- cise, pregnancy and effects of medication. Also new forms of treatment and methods of diagnosis. - active as an advocacy role before govern- ment and the bio -medical industry, to ad- vance the cause of diabetics in the workforce and society. -.better ways to deliver insulin, better ways to control the degenerative effects of diabetes, and ultimately, to find a cure. Funds received by the Canadian Diabetes Association come from bequests, contribui- tions by individuals and corporate contribu- tions. Membership fees are 'nominal. and support a fraction of the administrative costs. The balance of operating funds and provision for expansion of services are ob- tained from donations at a time of national appeal. The major portion of the Associa- tion's budget is directed to research and education ,pro.gi sons.. . How charitable organizations spend money Bruce -Huron chapter of Ontario Division, Canadian Diabetic Association. (CDA) members, are saying allegations by Paul Tuz, president of the Better Business Bureau, about charitable organizations, could effect fundraising activities this' month, Chapter president Richard Payne told The News last week that Mr. Tuz has hired people to investigate how charitable organizations spend their money: In some cases, so-called charitable organizations are spending up to 40 per cent of their intake on administration costs. Martha Curgin, director of program development for CDA, Ontario division, said. Mr. Tuz has not asked to see their books, but said they are open to anyone wishing to look. She added that administration costs for CDA are under seven per cent. "Cancer Society and CDA are the two I organizations who have been chosen to work for implementation of programs by the ministry of health for two decades. They know they are worthwhile causes," said Ms. Curgin. She added, however, that what Mr. Tuz is doing "is a good thing", but it's affecting worthwhile organizations like CDA. Because of these allegations, the local diabetic association canvassers are meeting sceptical people at doors who are unwilling to donate, said Mr. Payne, and it has meant a slow start in their annual November fundraising campaign. "Of the money raised, 9r3 per cent goes to our 'four mandates: research, education, 'well beir1 ( diabetics' day to day living) and advocacy'," explained Ms. Curgin. "Since the Canadian Diabetes Association was established in 1953, with the he)p of a dedicated team of volunteers, we have contributed Valuably to the quality of life of those Canadians affected by diabetes through the monies we have raised for research," said Elwood Springman, executive director of CDA in respons"e to the allegations. `'In 1984, donations from the public helped CDA fund 12 per cent of . all diabetes research in Canada, which is the largest source of diabetes research dollars raised from a voluntary organization. A report stated this translates 'into over $1.2 million Turn to page 2.11• Meal plan helps Diabetes control includes exercise. medication, education and diet. In some cases, the diabetic may have to be•co nsctnus, of all four, but in less extreme•asts, carefully monitoring food intake could help the situation. By watching their diet, and cooking with proper ingredients, a diabetic can sl ill enjoy scrumptious treats such as banana cream pie, spiced cookie, peach parfait. deviled Swiss steak and herbed chicken. The Country Church Cookbook, prepared by ' the Sl. James 'Middleton Anglican Church Women, recommends the following recipes. Banana Cream Pie 34 cup evaporated skim milk Htsp salt 34 tsp vanilla 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 eggs 1 cup skim milk 1 cup sliced bananas omc-third cup Sweet and lest Beal eggs and salt with evaporal qd ;,.Add skim milk and sweetencsr. ('o ► until mixt ore thickens. Add vanilla. Mix.w:e •►ncd remove from heat. Arrange banana slices in pie shell. Add custard and. chill until firm 'i'op wit 11 whipped cream. Spiced Cookies One and two -I hirds cup flour 12 cup margarine I egg 1 cup apple sauce rine-( hird cup raisin, 1 cup bran ' tsp. salt 1 Isp. cinnami,n tsp. nutmeg ' 2 I sp. cloves 1 tsp. soda 2 I bsp, liquid succaryl Drop on cookie Lin. Bake 18 'ninth es, Turn to page 2A •