Diabetes intervention card (new)

✓ Low GI foods: High GI foods are broken down into glucose, and absorbed quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar, which may be dangerous for diabetics. Stick to carbohydrates considered low GI, as these cause a steady and manageable rise in blood sugar. Look for the low GI symbol in your food list. ✓ Insulin Control Formula: Weigh-Less offers a scientifically designed Formula for Members who suffer from diabetes. Our Insulin Control Formula, Profile D, has been developed to ensure that you are able to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, and shed the excess kilo’s that may further aggravate your condition. ✓ Regular meals: It is recommended that you follow the Formula Splitting rules outlined in your profile book. Consume five to six small meals a day, and split up the carbohydrate serves equally between these meals to ensure carbohydrates are supplied to your blood at a constant and steady stream. ✓ Fat matters: It is important to monitor your fat intake as with your diagnosis of diabetes, comes increased risk of heart disease. A diet low in saturated fats may assist in preventing heart disease. Salt-water fish such as salmon and tuna are a great source of healthy fats and diabetics are encouraged to drink skim milk instead of low-fat milk, and eat lentils, chickpeas and beans in the place of red meat, chicken and cheese as often as possible. Look for the Low-Fat, Heart and Monounsaturated Fat symbols in your food list. ✓ Dry beans, soya, lentils and peas, please! Eat these foods on a regular basis as a part of your protein serves. They will help you balance blood sugar and fat levels.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETICS  It is important to consult a registered dietician or diabetes educator to learn how to allocate your Formula serves in accordance with your insulin and activity levels.  Check your blood sugar levels more frequently during your first few weeks of Weigh-Less so that you may adapt your meal plan and/or insulin doses accordingly.

Diabetes

intervention card

 As you lose weight your dosage of insulin may change, so keep your doctor or healthcare worker informed of your weight loss progress and monitor blood sugar levels frequently.  HbA1c (long-term blood sugar control), blood pressure and cholesterol should be assessed every three months.

04/2014 | IN-0001408

(FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS):

Although manageable, diabetes is a serious condition and very common in South Africa. Recent estimates refer to 3.5 million diabetics in the country, with an estimated 1.5 million of these cases going undiagnosed.

The low-down on diabetes

Diabetes has two very common forms, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 90 to 95 percent of people suffering from diabetes, suffer from Type 2 diabetes. A third less common form, gestational diabetes has been observed but is also evident during pregnancy, and after the baby is born, subsides. Gestational diabetes, however, may be a strong indicator that you may be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

TYPE 1

diabetes is an auto-immune condition where the immune system destroys the cells within the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin, and thereby the body cannot produce insulin and regulate its blood glucose (sugar). This form of diabetes often develops in one’s early years, although it can develop at any age and is thought to be caused by factors including genetics, viruses and auto-immune issues. People who suffer from Type 1 diabetes are required to take daily insulin injections to compensate for the pancreas’ inability to sustain insulin production.

Please note: Individuals suffering from Type 1 diabetes are not allowed to join Weigh-Less, unless they have lived with the condition for over 5 years and their medical practitioner has acknowledged their participation in the Weigh-Less programme.

TYPE 2 diabetes is strongly linked to, and may follow, insulin resistance. It is often referred to as a lifestyle disease as it is triggered by poor eating habits, lack of exercise and excess weight. Type 2 diabetes has been considered to primarily affect those over 40 years of age, however over recent years, experts have noted a rise in the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in younger people. Here, the pancreas does make insulin, but either the body becomes heavily desensitised to insulin as result of insulin resistance, or an insulin deficiency within the body means that insufficient levels of insulin are produced to adequately maintain blood glucose (sugar) levels. Some people suffering from Type 2 diabetes may have to take insulin injections, however the condition can be managed effectively with healthy eating patterns, weight loss and a more active lifestyle.

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Warning symptoms: Symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may be similar, but may also vary in their intensity. Warning symptoms of diabetes may include: extreme thirst and hunger, fatigue, increased urination (during the night) and blurry vision. Record your blood glucose levels on the Know Your Numbers Health Tracker in your Filo to ensure that you remain aware of your blood glucose levels and can better manage your condition.

Managing diabetes: It is extremely important to engage in various lifestyle changes to assist in managing diabetes. When untreated and unmanaged, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. Weigh-Less promotes a specialised Insulin Control Formula, Profile D, which will help diabetics, and those at risk of diagnosis, manage their blood sugar levels effectively. ✓ Monitor: The only way in which to effectively manage and stay on top of your blood glucose levels is to remain aware of them. Consult your health care professional about how frequently you should be testing your blood glucose levels. ✓ Medicate: If you have been prescribed medication for diabetes from a doctor, it is vital to stick to the recommended doses, to avoid the symptoms of the condition. ✓ Stay away from salt: Salt may contribute to higher blood pressure levels. Look for the foods that are high in salt, marked in your food list with the ‘salt symbol’. ✓ Quit smoking: If you are a smoker, the habit can heighten the symptoms of your diabetes. Smoking further raises blood glucose levels.

It is vital, however, that you be cautious of your food intake when you quit, in order to avoid spikes in blood glucose. ✓ Drink in moderation: One and a half, to two drinks a day has been proven to lower your risk of diabetes by 30 percent. If you have already been diagnosed, you may need to talk with your doctor about the effects that alcohol may have on your blood glucose levels. ✓ Exercise: This has been credited as the third most important factor in managing diabetes, after receiving medical attention and initiating weight loss. Exercise improves your body’s ability to respond to insulin and will help manage your increased risk of heart disease. 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise at least six days a week is recommended.

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