TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in Taiwan, while early diagnosis can prevent the onset of the disease and eliminate the need for long-term treatment.
Doctors recommend the public undergo regular health checks to grasp the opportunity for treatment before the onset of diabetes. For one 52-year-old male who visited an emergency room due to symptoms such as dry mouth, general weakness, and a sudden weight loss of 10 kg, diabetes prevention was too late, per CNA.
Lai Bo-yin (賴柏茵), an attending physician at Chi Mei Hospital Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, said the man originally suffered from high blood pressure and high cholesterol and took regular medication to control the symptoms. After he visited the ER with advanced symptoms, doctors found that his blood sugar level soared, diagnosing him with stage 2 diabetes.
Treatment of his diabetes included regular injections of insulin combined with an oral hypoglycemic agent. After six months, his condition was well controlled, and his dosage was adjusted as he no longer required insulin, only taking one OHA.
Lai said that failure to control blood sugar can affect organs throughout the body and lead to multiple complications. Diabetes is one of the main causes of blindness and can require dialysis and even limb amputation.
According to Lai, in the past, many thought that "excessive hunger, thirst, and urination" were the symptoms of diabetes. However, once these symptoms appear, it is often too late to cure the disease, and only long-term medication can keep the disease under control.
However, current medical research has shown that with the correct medication combined with diet and lifestyle adjustments, there is still a chance to "reverse" the disease and avoid becoming a diabetic.
Lai said that obesity is one of the risk factors for developing pre-diabetes, and its onset is affecting younger individuals. Doctors believe it may be related to the consumption of sugary drinks and the consumption of refined starchy foods.
The public is recommended to undergo regular blood tests to understand the changes in their blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). If any abnormalities are found, they should immediately seek professional medical assistance.
Lai said that heredity is also one of the high-risk factors for diabetes, and it is recommended that high-risk groups eat three regular meals a day, stop eating snacks, avoid refined starchy foods, and control fruit intake to about two fist-sized portions.
Lai said that although diabetes cannot be completely cured, regular medication, a healthy diet, and moderate exercise can still reduce the risk of complications. Thus, those who actively try to control their diabetes can still maintain a good quality of life.
