Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
SMOKING AND DIABETES MANAGEMENT
Old habits die hard - so goes the popular saying. The habit of smoking has been in existence for a long time.Pictures and findings from early times reveal that smoking activity either directly or indirectly has been practiced by man for long.
What then are the best technique and strategies towards handling this age old habit?
Recently in my effort to find answers to my many questions, I had an audience with a traditional healer- he opined that smoking is a spiritual spell that can be casted out via incantations and some herbs. I then journeyed to have a session witha priest who smoke. He told me to encourage people not to smoke and that he is going to quit as soon as he attains age 75. In the medical world there are presently electronic cigars, nicotine patch and many other devices available to enable one quit smoking and henc live healthy with diabetes.
The question that am yet to answer in cause of my research is thus:
Is it possible to quit smoking having all these means available witout Discipline?
What then are the best technique and strategies towards handling this age old habit?
Recently in my effort to find answers to my many questions, I had an audience with a traditional healer- he opined that smoking is a spiritual spell that can be casted out via incantations and some herbs. I then journeyed to have a session witha priest who smoke. He told me to encourage people not to smoke and that he is going to quit as soon as he attains age 75. In the medical world there are presently electronic cigars, nicotine patch and many other devices available to enable one quit smoking and henc live healthy with diabetes.
The question that am yet to answer in cause of my research is thus:
Is it possible to quit smoking having all these means available witout Discipline?
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME AND DIABETES CARE
The management of Diabetes is quite expensive especially in the developing World. It is more expensive if not managed hence there is no limit to the cost until the final knock of death. The hope however is that early actions in terms of management and care always bring about notable change in outcome measures in a diabetic well being. Ideally, resources should be made available to ensure that people diagnosed with diabetes carry out blood glucose self monitoring, receive appropriate meters, strips and education free of charge. Unfortunately at this stage, such a goal is unrealistic in many Countries even though possible due to competing priorities for very limited health budgets particularly in the context of the HIV/AIDs and TB epidemics sweeping across Sub Saharan Africa.
Through public private partnership scheme, the following can be achieved:
- Provision of free glucometers and test strips and drugs for Children and Pregnant women with diabetes this will aid the fight against the upsurge in Child Maternal Mortality rate.
- Arrangement can be made with Manufacturers whereby the meters are provided free to the patient while the test strips are paid for at subsidized rate.
- In areas or institutions where meters are available, information on the importance of blood glucose self monitoring needs to be explained in a culturally appropriate manner using local languages that people can understand.
- The media should foster dialogue and initiate discuss among stake holders, interest groups and policy makers towards engineering change to best practices.
Through public private partnership scheme, the following can be achieved:
- Provision of free glucometers and test strips and drugs for Children and Pregnant women with diabetes this will aid the fight against the upsurge in Child Maternal Mortality rate.
- Arrangement can be made with Manufacturers whereby the meters are provided free to the patient while the test strips are paid for at subsidized rate.
- In areas or institutions where meters are available, information on the importance of blood glucose self monitoring needs to be explained in a culturally appropriate manner using local languages that people can understand.
- The media should foster dialogue and initiate discuss among stake holders, interest groups and policy makers towards engineering change to best practices.
The United Nations in December, 2006 came up with Resolution 61/225 which resulted in officially and globally recognizing the need for concern towards Diabetes Awareness, improved care and search for possible cure. November, 14th was recognized as World Diabetes Day. The International Diabetes Federation has been a champion of this campaign since 1991.
Some developed Countries have realized the danger posed by non communicable disease like Diabetes among others. However, the challenge is still much considering the attitude and approach many developing Countries especially those in Subsaharan Africa have towards Diabetes mellitus. Many of these Countries do not have a National Clinical Guideline for Management of Diabetes hence the order of the day is no standardization of practice. The gross effect is poor glycemic control, increase prevalence of avoidable or preventable complications, spread of wrong or harmful methodologies of care.
Government in developing countries struggle to deal with many pressing health and social issues. Diabetes Care is expensive, and funding must compete with programme such as those striving to control infectious diseases – which can often save more lives on a cheaper per- capital basis.
Government provision of Insulin and other accessories at lower cost contribute not only to the well being of a portion of her population but also prevent expensive disabling and life threatening complications.
Some of the reasons for disparity in the standard of care in sub-Saharan Africa in contrast to developed Countries includes:
1. Government of majority of the developing Countries do not regard diabetes as a priority and therefore allocate little or nothing at all in terms of resources for diabetes care.
2. In many of these Countries all outpatient costs including medications and monitoring equipments are the responsibility of individual persons living with diabetes or their families.
3. The media is yet to recognize the socio-economic burden of Diabetes and other non communicable disease like cancer. This is a challenge that the media should champion and not political issues alone as Diabetes is presently causing more amputation than landmines. All media organizations need to create awareness about this public health concern from time to time because majority of the people living with type 2 Diabetes could have been prevented if appropriately cure of their ignorance by education on lifestyle modification.
As the situation is, the problem seem to be increasing, no body accepting full responsibility but those who are directly or indirectly affected by Diabetes feels the brunch each second, minute, hour , days and years. Let us arise from our comfort zones and speak out towards Diabetes awareness, Diabetes aid for less privilege ones especially widows and orphans. The Government on its part should wake up to its responsibility, one wonders, a careful observation will show that majority of persons in places of authority that can influence appropriate policy towards these cause seem not to show interest or concern.
Come November 14th 2010, I want to challenge all to speak to someone about Diabetes mellitus, learn more about Diabetes and be physically active.
Some developed Countries have realized the danger posed by non communicable disease like Diabetes among others. However, the challenge is still much considering the attitude and approach many developing Countries especially those in Subsaharan Africa have towards Diabetes mellitus. Many of these Countries do not have a National Clinical Guideline for Management of Diabetes hence the order of the day is no standardization of practice. The gross effect is poor glycemic control, increase prevalence of avoidable or preventable complications, spread of wrong or harmful methodologies of care.
Government in developing countries struggle to deal with many pressing health and social issues. Diabetes Care is expensive, and funding must compete with programme such as those striving to control infectious diseases – which can often save more lives on a cheaper per- capital basis.
Government provision of Insulin and other accessories at lower cost contribute not only to the well being of a portion of her population but also prevent expensive disabling and life threatening complications.
Some of the reasons for disparity in the standard of care in sub-Saharan Africa in contrast to developed Countries includes:
1. Government of majority of the developing Countries do not regard diabetes as a priority and therefore allocate little or nothing at all in terms of resources for diabetes care.
2. In many of these Countries all outpatient costs including medications and monitoring equipments are the responsibility of individual persons living with diabetes or their families.
3. The media is yet to recognize the socio-economic burden of Diabetes and other non communicable disease like cancer. This is a challenge that the media should champion and not political issues alone as Diabetes is presently causing more amputation than landmines. All media organizations need to create awareness about this public health concern from time to time because majority of the people living with type 2 Diabetes could have been prevented if appropriately cure of their ignorance by education on lifestyle modification.
As the situation is, the problem seem to be increasing, no body accepting full responsibility but those who are directly or indirectly affected by Diabetes feels the brunch each second, minute, hour , days and years. Let us arise from our comfort zones and speak out towards Diabetes awareness, Diabetes aid for less privilege ones especially widows and orphans. The Government on its part should wake up to its responsibility, one wonders, a careful observation will show that majority of persons in places of authority that can influence appropriate policy towards these cause seem not to show interest or concern.
Come November 14th 2010, I want to challenge all to speak to someone about Diabetes mellitus, learn more about Diabetes and be physically active.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)