THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
WORLD DIABETES DAY
Constant
vigilance
Regular monitoring
of signs and symptoms can
help someone with diabetes
manage her condition and
improve her quality of life.
See inside for more information.
Giving your feet due attention
PEOPLE who experience pins and
needles in the feet may not think
much of them. However, if this
sensation persists, it may signal a
condition known as neuropathy or
nerve damage, which could lead to
bigger problems.
Neuropathy is caused by a
variety of reasons, including
diabetes, alcohol consumption,
genetic predisposition, an infection,
cancer, nutritional deficiencies,
exposure to toxins and diseases
that cause chronic inflammation
involving the nerves.
Among them, diabetes is the
most prevalent cause of nerve
damage. This is called diabetic
neuropathy, which happens when
nerves or a group of nerves are
damaged as a result of high blood
sugar level. Here are some
statistics on diabetic neuropathy:
l Up to 50% of people with
diabetes will suffer from diabetic
neuropathy over the course of
their disease.
l Up to 50% of diabetes patients
with diabetic neuropathy do not
experience any symptoms.
l The prevalence of diabetic
neuropathy increases with age and
diabetic years:
- Diabetic neuropathy starts
in the pre-diabetic stage
- 8% have diabetic tests for diagnosing peripheral
neuropathy when diagnosed
with diabetes
- 50% of diabetic patients
above 60 years old have
diabetic neuropathy
l Despite this, 50% of people
with diabetes are unable to name
diabetic neuropathy as a
complication, due to low
awareness.
l Only 28% are aware that
people with Type 2 diabetes are
more likely to have an amputation
than people without diabetes.
Most people take footcare for
granted. For diabetics, however,
caring for the feet is a serious
matter with unfortunate
consequences if neglected.
Because nerve damage can cause
reduced or loss of sensation in the
feet, sores and small injuries may
go unnoticed and become badly
ulcerated, infected and difficult to
heal. The healing process is also
compromised by poorer blood
circulation in diabetics.
Eventually, amputation of the
toe, foot or even lower leg may be
necessary if treatment is no longer
possible.
Amputation and foot ulceration
are common and serious problems
among diabetics, but they can be
prevented or delayed if identified
early and dealt with.
The American Diabetes
Association recommends that
adults with diabetes undergo
annual health screenings to detect
diabetic neuropathy.
There are five simple clinical
neuropathy of the legs and arms.
They include tests for pinprick
sensation and ankle reflexes,
vibration testing using a tuning
fork, and testing using a device
known as a biothesiometer.
As part of its continuous
initiative to raise awareness of the
importance of healthy nerves,
Merck is providing nerve tests
using a biothesiometer at selected
pharmacies nationwide.
Tight blood sugar level control,
appropriate dietary control, proper
footcare, regular exercise and
smoking cessation are important to
prevent or delay neuropathy and
its complications.
Benefits of B vitamins
Neurotropic B vitamins nourish
and help regenerate nerves. These
vitamins are thiamine (B1),
pyridoxine (B6) and cobalamin
(B12).
Vitamin B1 is involved in energy
metabolism, the synthesis of
neurotransmitters and
maintenance of the myelin sheath
that covers the axon of nerves.
Vitamin B6 helps synthesise
neurotransmitters while vitamin
B12 is involved in nerve cell
maturation and regeneration,
nerve cell metabolism and
formation of nerve myelin sheaths.
In populations at risk of
neuropathy, especially diabetics,
early detection and treatment of
neuropathy is crucial to avoid
irreversible damage to nerves.
Seek advice from your doctor or
healthcare professional if you have
any concern regarding diabetes or
diabetic neuropathy.
This article is brought to you by
Merck Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, e-mail
ch.my@merckgroup.com.
2 World Diabetes Day THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017

Elevated blood glucose

level can cause a range of
cardiovascular diseases,
which can be fatal if
levels are not lowered
and stabilised.
t

Reducing risk through good nutrition

WE need to keep our cholesterol
levels in check to maintain a
healthy heart and stable blood
glucose level throughout life.
According to International
Diabetes Federation, people with
elevated blood glucose levels are
two to six times more likely to
develop cardiovascular disease.
One needs to consume about
100g of oatmeal or 500ml of milk
with added plant sterols to obtain
the claimed cholesterol-lowering
benefits.
Many are unaware that such
large recommended daily portions
are carbohydrate-rich and energy-
dense, which could lead to weight
gain and raise a persons risk of
developing elevated blood glucose
levels.
Therefore, portion control is key
and critical in achieving positive
glycaemic response among
individuals with diabetes.
In many clinical trials, adopting
a high-fibre and low-GI (glycaemic
index) diet that includes oat beta-
glucans has shown consistent
positive short-term and long-term
effects on blood glucose control
among diabetics.
Biogrow Oat BG22 Oat Bran
Powder and Crispy Cereal are
diabetic-friendly foods that offer
plenty of viscous oat beta-glucans,
which have been clinically shown
to help stabilise blood glucose
levels and achieve energy balance
throughout the day.
The oat bran powder and
crispy cereal provide the
following benefits:
l Contain clinically proven,
bioactive oat beta-glucans with
more than 20 published papers on
the cholesterol-lowering and blood
glucose-regulating effects
l Small, easy-to-serve daily
portion of only two scoops ( 18g)
of oat bran powder or one packet
(30g) of crispy oat cereal offers the
required 3g oat beta-glucans
l Low in calories but high in
total fibre, iron, magnesium and
zinc
l Very low in sodium and low
in GI, making them suitable for
pre-diabetics and diabetics
Make low-GI, high-fibre oat
beta-glucan Biogrow Oat BG22
part of your daily diet today.
This article is brought to you by
Legosan (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
n For more information,
call 03-7956 2220 (Monday to
Friday, 9am to 5pm) or e-mail
info@biogrow.com.my.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017 World Diabetes Day 3

Improving nerve health

DO you experience numbness, a
tingling sensation, pain and cramps
or know of someone enduring such
discomfort?
These symptoms, which occur in
the legs and arms, are commonly
grouped as symptoms of peripheral
neuropathy.
It results when nerves that carry
messages to and from the brain
and spinal cord are damaged or
diseased.
For individuals suffering from
this disorder, symptoms may
manifest over a period of days,
weeks or years.
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the
most common forms of peripheral
neuropathy.
Pain and numbness are often
felt symmetrically in both feet
followed by a gradual progression
up both legs.
After some time, the fingers,
hands and arms may be affected as
well.
What is vitamin B12?
Critical for the nervous systems
function, a lack of vitamin B12 can
cause significant peripheral
neuropathy.
There are two forms of vitamin
B12 methylcobalamin and
cyanocobalamin. Methylcobalamin
is the active form of vitamin B12
and is required for healthy
development and sustenance of
our circulatory, immune and
nervous systems.
On the other hand,
cyanocobalamin is a byproduct
of vitamin B12 charcoal
extraction. The liver must
convert cyanocobalamin to
methylcobalamin for vitamin B12
to do its biochemical work in the
brain.
Thus, methylcobalamin is the
biologically active form of vitamin
B12 that can be readily absorbed
into the bloodstream. Vitamin B12
can be obtained from food sources
such as liver, fish and meat.
Benefits of vitamin B12:
l Promotes healthy nerves
l Reduces nerve pain and
neuropathy symptoms caused by
diabetes
l Improves numbness, reflexes,
sensitivity to vibration, pin-prick
stimulation and pain
What is alpha-lipoic acid
(ALA)?
ALA is widely known as a strong
antioxidant that protects against
damage to the bodys cells. It is
used to treat diabetes and nerve-
related symptoms of diabetes
including burning sensations, pain
and numbness in the legs and
arms.
ALA can be found in food
sources such as organ meat (heart,
kidneys and liver) as well as
vegetables such as broccoli
and spinach.
Benefits of ALA:
l Reduces symptoms of nerve
damage caused by diabetes such as
pain and numbness
l Acts as an antioxidant to help
prevent cell and nerve damage in
the body
l Restores vitamin levels such as
vitamins E and C
The combination of ALA and
vitamin B12 in methylcobalamin
form is an effective way to reduce
the symptoms of nerve damage
and promote nerve health.
Lastly, an alternative way to
keep your nerves healthy is to
adopt a healthy lifestyle. Walk with
ease and enjoy every step starting
from today.
This article is brought to you by
Medispec (M) Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, call
1300 800 228 or e-mail
enquiry@medispec.com.my.

Dermal Therapy
products can help
alleviate skin irritation
from diabetes-related
complications.

Caring for the sole

SKIN problems are one of the
most telling signs of diabetes.
Some skin conditions occur
mostly or only with diabetics
diabetic dermopathy, necrobiosis
lipoidica diabeticorum and
diabetic blisters.
One skin condition that may
be common is dry skin that can
cause skin to crack, itch and get
infected, leading to serious
complications.
Cleansing and moisturising
the skin regularly can provide
relief from itchiness and
irritation from dry skin.
Dermal Therapy Soap Free
Wash contains naturally derived
ingredients to gently cleanse and
protect the skin.
The formula contains
xerophyte plant extract for
intense moisturisation and is
free of parabens, sodium lauryl
sulfate (SLS) and the harmful
1,4-dioxane contamination.
This body wash uses coconut
oil-based cleansing agents as
opposed to sulfate-based agents
such as SLS, which can cause
irritation.
Dermal Therapy Soap Free
Wash uses a high percentage of
moisturising agents such as
vegetable-based glycerine and
contains no artificial colouring
or fragrance.
Besides that, Dermal Therapys
Very Dry Skin Lotion can be
used on normal skin to protect
against skin irritation due to
dryness.
Its concentrated formula
contains 10% chemically
synthesised urea and 1%
dimethicone, which work in
synergy with a blend of seven
functional ingredients including
emollients and two vitamins to
moisturise the skin.
Suitable for the whole family,
the Very Dry Skin Lotion
provides 24-hour moisture lock
when applied and settles on skin
easily due to its non-greasy,
quick-absorbing formula.
Our feet are constantly
exposed to germs, dirt and harsh
substances. When footcare is
neglected, it can cause serious
medical issues.
Therefore, it is important
to wash and moisturise feet
and treat cuts immediately.
For people with dry skin and
cracked heels, the importance of
taking good care of their feet
increases tenfold because the
cleaner they are, the less
susceptible they will be to
infections.
Dermal Therapys Heel Balm is
formulated for use on rough, dry
and cracked feet. It contains 25%
chemically synthesised
pharmaceutical-grade urea.
It can also be used extensively
as a preventative moisturiser.
With daily use, it keeps feet soft,
smooth and supple.
The formula of Dermal
Therapy Heel Balm has been
enriched with 11 emollients
including shea butter, aloe vera,
vitamin E and tea tree oil, which
promote soft, supple skin.
Dermal Therapy products are
distributed by Delfi Marketing
Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, call
03-5123 3300, e-mail enquiry.kl@
delfimarketing.com.my or visit
www.dermaltherapy.com.my.
4 World Diabetes Day
Finding a solution
PAULINE (not her real name) has her
medication routine down pat. Sitagliptin/
metformin, simvastatin, ferrous fumarate
and vitamin C in the morning, and the same
collection plus mecobalamin at night.
Each pill keeps her blood glucose level,
cholesterol level, haemoglobin level, and
heart and kidney health at the best form
they can be considering her medical
condition.
Pauline has type 2 diabetes, a consequence
of her past struggle with gestational diabetes
while pregnant with her third child more
than a decade ago.
Throughout her pregnancy, both she and
the unborn baby were subjected to constant
monitoring of blood glucose levels.
Her life is not dissimilar to the estimated
15% to 20% of Malaysias population with
various types of diabetes, of which more
than half are women, according to
International Diabetes Federation.
This year, the World Diabetes Day
awareness campaign focuses on women and
diabetes.
The campaign estimates that one in 10
women or some 199 million of the female
population around the world is currently
struggling with diabetes, with the number
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
expected to grow to 313 million by 2040.
With two out of five women with diabetes
being of reproductive age and one in seven
births affected by gestational diabetes, it is
important for the world to be aware of the
effect of diabetes on women and figure out
medical solutions to manage the odds.
Women with diabetes face higher
difficulties in conceiving and many have
poor pregnancy outcomes.
A combination of socioeconomic factors,
lack of cost-effective diabetes prevention and
early detection, misdiagnoses and outdated
treatment methods, especially in developing
countries, has women drawing the shorter
straw against the diabetes-related odds
already stacked up against them.
World Diabetes Day 2017 aims to bring to
light the importance of affordable and
equitable access for all women at risk of
diabetes or living with diabetes to essential
medication and technology, self-management
education and information they require to
strengthen their capacity to prevent type 2
diabetes.
Diabetes may not have a cure yet, but we
can focus our efforts on detection, control
and self-management of diabetes as well as
improving the quality of life with diabetes.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
Keep glucose level in check
KEEPING blood sugar on track
can seem like a marathon. It is
the result of the many choices
you make, meal by meal, day by
day.
It is about navigating
temptations with confidence so
that you can reap the rewards
later. This is where great-tasting
Glucerna comes into play.
Offering complete nutrition,
Glucerna is formulated with a low
glycaemic index (GI) as well as
high fibre and monounsaturated
fats (MUFA) content to assist with
blood sugar control.
Food with low GI is known to
help keep blood sugar levels under
better control.
According to a study published
in the Nutrition & Metabolism
journal in 2005, carbohydrates
that are digested slowly (such
as Fibersol and sucromalt)
result in slow release of blood
glucose, providing better
Doing the heart good
IT is now common knowledge
that diabetes has risen through
the ranks to one of the top killers
of Malaysians.
Diabetes, a non-communicable
disease that is destructive
enough on its own, is known to
affect major organs in the body
the kidneys and heart in
particular.
Cardiovascular disease is the
most common cause of death
and disability among people
with diabetes, according to
International Diabetes
Federations IDF Diabetes Atlas
2015.
The cardiovascular diseases
that accompany diabetes include
angina, myocardial infarction,
stroke, peripheral artery disease
and congestive heart failure.
High blood pressure, high
cholesterol, high blood glucose
and other risk factors can
increase the risk of
cardiovascular complications.
Several preventative and
self-management measures
are effective for diabetes
patients.
Regular monitoring of
blood glucose levels and being
aware of symptoms the body
exhibits when blood glucose
levels are too high or too low
can be monumental in
World Diabetes Day 5
glycaemic response.
In another study published in
The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition in 1997, a diet high in
MUFA, omega-6 and omega-3,
and low in saturated fatty acids is
associated with lower cholesterol
levels and reduced risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Glucernas high fibre content
helps increase satiety.
Consider Glucerna as a
structured calorie-controlled meal
Available in vanilla
plan and do away with calorie
counting when deciding what to
and chocolate
eat for one or two meals and/or flavours, Glucerna
two snacks a day. has a low
It is recommended to take five glycaemic index
scoops of Glucerna with 200ml of and contains high
cold or warm water daily for fibre and
breakfast as part of a nutritional monounsaturated
management plan. fats to help keep
blood glucose level
n For more information, call under control.
1800 886 233 (Monday to Friday,
9am to 6pm).
controlling the disease.
Diabetes patients are also
encouraged to get physically
active to make it easier on their
bodies to live with the disease.
One such event encouraging
physical activity is IJN Ride 4
Your Heart by the National
Heart Institute on Nov 26.
Participants can choose to go
the distance with the 115km
challenge or opt for the less
gruelling 38km route. More
information is available on the
IJN website.
Due to Malaysias obesity rates
as a result of sedentary lifestyles,
physical activity and fitness
could be the key to preventing
type 2 diabetes and diabetes-
related heart disease.
For people only just getting off
the couch to begin their fitness
journey, low-impact exercises
such as swimming, walking and
cycling are advisable to
minimise strain on joints and
lower extremities.
Cycling in particular can
present the most noticeable
results in fitness levels if done
over varied terrains and
distances.
Long-distance cycling can do
wonders for cardiovascular
health and reduce the stress
diabetes puts on the heart.
6 World Diabetes Day
Beware of the
three highs
DIABETES is a progressive disease
that is associated with a long list of
complications, including
cardiovascular disease, eye damage
and foot damage.
The longer a patient has had
diabetes, the higher his risk of
complications.
The condition worsens when
his blood glucose level is not
controlled.
The normal fasting blood glucose
level ranges between 3.9mmol/L
and 5.6mmol/L, but it is not
practical for a diabetes patient to
keep a normal blood glucose level
all the time.
Hence, blood glucose targets for
a diabetes patient should be
individualised and patients should
discuss monitoring strategies with
their healthcare providers.
Diabetes patients, especially
those prescribed with insulin
therapy, are encouraged to self-
monitor blood glucose levels.
Self-monitoring blood
glucose levels is
important for diabetes
patients to assess their
day-to-day well-being.
Patients can discuss the readings
with their healthcare providers to
achieve better control of blood
glucose levels.
Long-term elevated blood
glucose levels harden and narrow
the arteries. This can cause high
blood pressure, which is a common
comorbidity of diabetes.
According to National Diabetes
Registry 2009-2012, about 70.1% of
patients have high blood pressure.
Be in control
Left untreated, high blood
pressure can eventually lead to
stroke, heart disease or kidney
failure.
> SEE NEXT PAGE
AFFECTING nearly 1.2 million
people in Malaysia, according to
Diabetes Malaysia, diabetes is the
leading cause of blindness and
kidney failure among adults. It
also significantly increases the
risk of heart disease.
You can prevent the onset of
type 2 diabetes or control the
disease by maintaining a healthy
weight, exercising regularly,
eating a healthy diet, not
smoking and limiting alcohol
intake.
A study published in the
Medicine & Science in Sports &
Exercise journal found that one
session of moderate exercise can
improve the way your body
regulates glucose and boost your
sensitivity to insulin, which helps
keep your blood sugar within the
normal range.
A physically active lifestyle can
help control your blood glucose,
weight and blood pressure, raise
good cholesterol and lower bad
cholesterol.
Exercise also helps prevent
heart and blood flow problems,
reducing your risk of heart
disease and nerve damage,
which are problems often faced
by people with diabetes.
One of the preferred pieces of
home exercise equipment is the
elliptical trainer, also known as
crosstrainer.
The most important aspect of
using an elliptical trainer is the
reduction of knee impact during
exercise. It provides similar
workout as jogging but without
the strain on your joints.
The Nautilus E626 Elliptical
provides a total body workout
but with less impact on your
knees to keep you moving
longer.
This top-of-the-line machine
features 29 customisable
workout programmes, 25 levels
of resistance, motorised incline,
in-console speakers, an MP3
input port, USB media charging
and more.
Additional features of the
Nautilus E626 Elliptical include:
l DualTrack LCD display
This feature allows you to place
your tablet or magazine on the
main display and still track
your workout results on a
second high-resolution blue
backlit LCD monitor.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
An elliptical
trainer can keep
you fit with
minimal impact
to your knees.
The upper display shows the
programme, intensity, heart rate
zone, goal and users
achievements while the lower
display shows speed, time,
distance, resistance level, RPM
(revolutions per minute), heart
rate and calorie values.
l Precision Path foot motion
technology The 20-inch
Precision Path foot motion
technology provides the perfect
elliptical stride for a natural feel
and workout performance.
Spacious pedals give you
comfort and room to find your
ideal foot position.
l Nautilus Connect
performance tracker Nautilus
Connect allows you to upload,
analyse and track your workout
data.
This powerful fitness
dashboard helps you keep track
of the workout metrics you care
most about and allows you to
share them with your friends
and family.
Built-in Bluetooth technology
allows your elliptical trainer to
be effortlessly synced to the
Nautilus Connect portal, the
Nautilus Trainer App as well as
the popular nutrition app
MyFitnessPal.
The Nautilus E626 is available
exclusively at all Fitness Concept
outlets. Fitness Concept is having
its year-end Trade In & Save
Promotion, which allows you to
enjoy up to RM800 off your
purchase when you trade in
your old exercise machine or
massager.
Enjoy great savings, discounts
and complimentary gifts with
every purchase. Terms and
conditions apply.
Fitness Concept is Malaysias
largest fitness specialist chain as
certified by The Malaysia Book of
Records, with 45 outlets in
leading shopping malls
nationwide.
n For more information,
call 03-2282 3200 (Mid Valley
store)/ 03-5631 3901 (Sunway
Pyramid store), e-mail
enquiries@fitnessconcept.com.
my or visit www.fitnessconcept.
com.my.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017 World Diabetes Day 7

Monitor your
well-being
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Blood pressure is recorded as systolic

blood pressure (the upper number) and
diastolic blood pressure (the lower number).
Systolic blood pressure is the amount of
pressure your blood is exerting against your
arteries during heart muscle contractions.
Diastolic blood pressure is the blood
pressure against your arteries when your
heart muscle is resting between beats. The
ideal blood pressure for a person with
Patients or caregivers
diabetes should be less than 135/75mmHg. need not worry too
much. They can regularly
Cholesterol is essential for the body to
function normally. The desirable cholesterol
level should be less than 5.17mmol/L.
Individuals with high cholesterol levels monitor glucose level,
are recommended to undergo a full lipid
profile blood test. Diabetes patients are often
blood pressure as well as
more susceptible to unhealthy cholesterol cholesterol levels at home
levels.
Diabetes tends to not only decrease the with home monitoring
level of high-density lipoprotein or good
cholesterol in the body, it also increases the
devices that are available
bodys level of low-density lipoprotein or bad in the market.
cholesterol and triglycerides.
This increases the likelihood of a heart
attack, stroke and even death. Therefore, it is
advisable for diabetes patients to check AvoMeter Vantage is available at leading
cholesterol levels at least once annually. pharmacies and clinics in Malaysia.
However, patients or caregivers need not It is important to note that home
worry too much. They can regularly monitor monitoring cannot replace regular follow-
glucose level, blood pressure as well as ups with the doctor. Patients should continue
cholesterol levels at home with home taking the medication prescribed even if the
monitoring devices that are available in the readings are in the normal range during
market. home monitoring.
AvoMeter Vantage is a meter that With the correct treatment and proper
measures both glucose and cholesterol. With care, patients can prevent or delay the onset
a small amount of blood, the result for of complications.
glucose and cholesterol levels can be
obtained in as little as five seconds and 26 n For more information, call 03-5629 3656 or
seconds respectively, anytime and anywhere. e-mail lim.liying@apexpharma.com.my.
8 World Diabetes Day
Managing blood sugar
THE International Diabetes
Federation reported that
approximately 415 million people
worldwide have diabetes, that is, one
in 11 people. If this rise is not halted,
there will be 642 million people
living with the disease by 2040.
Diabetes is a chronic condition
characterised by elevated blood
sugar levels in the body. Type 2
diabetes is the most common type of
diabetes, accounting for at least 90%
of all cases.
It usually occurs in overweight
adults above 40 years old. However,
there has been a growing prevalence
of type 2 diabetes in younger people.
Your risk of developing diabetes
increases as you get older, if you
have a family history of diabetes or
are overweight and physically
inactive.
Diabetes is often called a silent
killer because early warning
symptoms can easily be missed.
These include unquenchable thirst,
frequent urination, extreme fatigue,
constant hunger, sudden weight loss
and blurred vision.
High levels of blood glucose over
an extended period of time can
damage blood vessels and nerves,
resulting in complications such as a
heart attack, stroke, kidney failure,
nerve damage, blindness and lower-
limb amputation.
While there is no known cure for
diabetes, with positive lifestyle
modifications, you can prevent or
delay the onset of
diabetes and the
accompanying
complications.
Keep a healthy
weight, eat a healthy
diet, exercise more
and quit smoking.
Nutritional support may
be beneficial to keep
blood sugar levels in check
and counteract oxidative
stress.
Clinical studies have
shown that fenugreek is
effective in lowering blood
sugar. Fenulife is a good source of
concentrated, odour-free fenugreek
seed extract, which provides three
times more galactomannan soluble
fibre than whole fenugreek seeds.
When ingested, it forms a gel-like
viscous mass that fills the stomach,
increasing satiety and slowing down
the absorption of glucose from food.
It also stimulates insulin production
when blood sugar levels are high.
Cinnamon can positively affect
blood sugar levels. It contains a
water-soluble polyphenol compound
called methylhydroxychalcone
polymer (MHCP) that mimics insulin,
increasing the uptake of blood sugar
by cells.
Supplementation with chromium
and biotin is essential in the efficient
metabolism of glucose. Combined,
they may help lower blood glucose
and HbA1c levels as well as
coronary risk factors in
hypercholesterolaemic type 2
diabetes.
Widely known as an antioxidant,
alpha lipoic acid (ALA) improves
blood sugar control by increasing
insulin sensitivity and glucose
uptake.
Keep your blood sugar level
under control and live a healthy
life.
This informational article is
brought to you by VitaHealth.
n For more information,
call 1800 183 288.
Guard
your liver
ACCORDING to the National
Health and Morbidity Survey
2015, 17.5% of Malaysian adults
have diabetes and its prevalence
is expected to increase from year
to year.
Diabetes is characterised by
hyperglycaemia or elevated
glucose (sugar) level in the blood
caused by insufficient insulin
production, insulin resistance or
both.
Insulin is a hormone produced
by the pancreas that keeps our
blood sugar level from getting
too high or too low
(hypoglycaemia). It allows our
body to use or store sugar from
carbohydrates as energy.
For instance, when we eat rice,
the rice is digested into glucose
(the smallest form of sugar),
causing the blood sugar level in
the body to rise. At the same
time, insulin is produced to
transport the glucose from the
blood to body cells for energy
production.
Glucose is stored in our liver
in the form of glycogen. An
adequate amount of insulin
inhibits the release of glucose
into the bloodstream by telling
the liver to store those glucose.
If there is a lack of insulin, the
liver releases glucose faster than
tissues can metabolise it, causing
the blood sugar level to rise.
Besides insulin deficiency, too
much insulin can also make you
sick. This refers to insulin
resistance.
Individuals with insulin
resistance lose the ability to
convert glucose into energy,
resulting in them feeling weak
and craving for carbohydrate-
rich or sugary food.
The elevated levels of insulin
in the bloodstream sends signals
to the liver to manufacture fat,
especially triglycerides and
cholesterol. Too much fat
production promotes the
accumulation of fat in the liver,
which eventually develops into
fatty liver.
If left untreated, fatty liver can
progress into non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis, which causes the
liver to swell.
Over time, the swollen liver
may cause scarring (cirrhosis)
An unbalanced diet can lead to diabetes, which in turn puts your liver at
greater risk of complications.
THE STAR, TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2017
and lead to liver failure.
The livers ability to repair and
regenerate itself makes this
largest internal organ a unique
one. Therefore, it deserves to be
guarded with hepatoprotective
nutrients such as silybin to
maintain its proper function.
Silybin is the most active
constituent of silymarin, which
is derived from Silybum
marianum or milk thistle.
As an antioxidant, silybin
neutralises free radicals and
inhibits lipid peroxidation. It
also assists in the detoxification
process by removing toxins from
the liver.
Other hepatoprotective
nutrients include essential
phospholipids, B vitamins and
vitamin E. Phospholipids help
regenerate and repair liver cell
membranes. B vitamins enhance
liver metabolism, thus
facilitating better detoxification,
while vitamin E serves as a
protector for liver health and
maintenance.
Starting from the roots
If you have diabetes, getting to
the root cause is the best way to
manage and prevent liver
disease.
l Maintain your blood sugar
level in a desirable range
l Lose weight gradually to
achieve an ideal body mass
index
l Move more and get
physically active every day
l Cut down foods high in
carbohydrate (sugar) and fat
l Drink eight glasses of plain
water daily
l Include liver health
examinations in your annual
medical check-up
l Guard your liver with
hepatoprotective nutrients
l Stop smoking and avoid
drinking alcohol
This article is brought to you
by BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.
n For more information, call
BiO-LiFE Customer Care
(Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
at 03-7499 7999 or e-mail
health@biolife.com.my.