What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition in which the body can’t maintain healthy levels of blood glucose. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. People with diabetes need daily self-care. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, it can be effectively managed and your local pharmacist can assist you in managing this health condition.
Diabetes symptoms
Diabetes can be different for everyone. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Always feeling hungry
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Blurred vision
- Feeling dizzy
- Feeling tired and lethargic
- Gradually putting on weight (type 2)
- Having cuts that heal slowly
- Headaches
- Leg cramps
- Mood swings
- Passing more urine
- Unexplained weight loss (type 1)
Related health conditions
Diabetes can lead to a number of serious health conditions, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Limb amputation
- Depression
- Anxiety
The good news is that with early detection and careful management, it is possible to reduce the risk of these complications.
How your pharmacist can help
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your pharmacist can help. You can talk to them about your diabetes management plan, as well as a range of products and services including:
- Blood glucose testing
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Diabetes medication checks
- National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDDS)
- Diet and lifestyle advice
- Diabetic foot care
Diabetes Agent (NDSS)
Many pharmacies are access points for the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) which aims to enhance the capacity of people with diabetes to understand and self-manage their condition.
The scheme also supports people with diabetes by providing timely, reliable and affordable access to the NDSS support services and products.
In addition, products such as needles, syringes, blood glucose test strips and urine test strips are available from your local pharmacy NDSS Access Points.
If your local pharmacy is an NDSS Access Point and you use an insulin pump, please speak directly to your local Pharmacist about your requirements.
