Where There's Sugar, There Are Ants!
Most people are probably familiar with diabetes. One complication that can arise with diabetes is peripheral neuropathic pain.1 So, what's the connection with "where there's sugar, there are ants?"Blood Sugar? It's Normal!1
 |
Referring to the 2021 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management and Prevention Guidelines from the Indonesian Endocrinology Association (PERKENI), if your fasting blood sugar level is 70-99 mg/dL, it's still perfectly normal. However, entering the pre- diabetes phase is already a yellow light. Start controlling your sugar intake! |
Indonesians, Sugar, and Diabetes2,3
Quoting an article released by the Ministry of Health, 61% of Indonesians are at risk of diabetes ☹ This may be due to the habit of Indonesians consuming sweet food/ drinks at least once daily since the age of 3.With such a high diabetes risk, the threat of accompanying complications is also higher. One terrifying complication of diabetes is nerve damage, which, unfortunately, is experienced by 90% of diabetes patients!
“Yellow Light” Diabetes1,5
Immediately check your blood sugar if you start experiencing these symptoms frequently:
Polyphagia: eating a lot/easily hungry Polyuria: frequent urination Polydipsia: frequent thirst Blurry vision, tingling feet (this is the origin of "where there's sugar, there are ants") Drastic weight lossPeripheral Nerve Damage Symptoms4,6-8
What can be most felt when there is peripheral nerve damage?
 |
Pain Due to Peripheral Nerve Damage
Besides the above symptoms, one disorder arising from peripheral nerve damage is pain. Pain from nerve damage cannot be treated with over-the- counter pain relievers, so prescription medications like gabapentinoids are recommended.8 Consult with the nearest medical professional regarding medicines suitable for you if experiencing such pain.
Effects of Gabapentinoid Drugs for Neuropathic Pain9
So, watch your sugar intake and hopefully we can all avoid diabetes and its complications! 😊
References:
Pedoman Pengelolaan dan Pencegahan Diabetes Mellitus Tipe 2 di Indonesia, PERKENI 2021. Artikel “Kemkes: 61 Persen Warga Konsumsi Lebih dari 1 Minuman Manis per Hari”. Artikel dapat diakses di sini: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20220928191029-20-853924/kemkes-61-persen-warga-konsumsi-lebih-dari-1-minuman-manis-per-hari. Rachmantoko R, et al. JPHV 2021.1:8-12 Gilron I, et al. CMAJ. 2006;175(3):265-75. P2PTM Kemenkes. https://p2ptm.kemkes.go.id/informasi-p2ptm/penyakit-diabetes-melitus?page=2. Diakses pada 26 Agustus 2024. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371580 Diakses pada 26 Agustus 2024. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003206.htm#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20possible%20causes,along%20your%20leg%20or%20foot. Diakses pada 26 Agustus 2024. Schreiber AK, et al. World J Diabetes 2015; 6(3): 432-44. Freynhagen R, et al. Postgrad Med 2021;133(1):1-9.
Kode Materi: PP-LYR-IDN-0016-NOV-2024
