Diseases and injuries – Page 80 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

10 Silent Signs of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus type 2, often linked to obesity, complicates blood glucose control for overweight individuals. It contributes to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and neuropathy. Early diagnosis and effective management through lifestyle changes and medication are crucial. Everyone should be aware of symptoms and high-risk factors for diabetes.

updated November 11, 2025

Diabetes mellitus type 2, sometimes called “sugar diabetes”, is one reason I have posted several articles about obesity. Obesity is strongly associated with diabetes.

People who are overweight or obese are at greater risk of developing diabetes, and if they are diabetic, their blood glucose (sugar) will be more difficult to control. Unfortunately, some of the medicines used to treat diabetes cause weight gain, or make weight loss difficult.

Diabetes and obesity are interrelated; we don't always know which came first. — Diabetes and obesity are interrelated; we don’t always know which came first.

Diabetes-a misunderstood disease.

People know cancer, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease are serious, but may minimize diabetes. They would be more concerned if they know diabetes directly contributes to many other conditions that decrease quality as well as length of life.

Diabetes directly contributes to

atherosclerosis, a fancy name for narrowed or blocked arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood; this can lead to heart attacks, stroke, loss of vision-retinopathy, limb pain, and amputation
loss of kidney function, called nephropathy, which can progress into ESRD (end stage renal disease)
damage to nerves, causing painful neuropathy with numbness and tingling in the feet, impotence, bowel and bladder dysfunction, dizziness among other symptoms.

diagram of the human heart — Heart diseases affect any and sometimes multiple parts of the heart- the atria, ventricles, the valves, the aorta, the pulmonary artery and veins, the walls and the coronary arteries (not shown in this diagram. )

Diabetes-a Treatable Disease

First, diabetes is easy to diagnose; a simple blood test, sometimes repeated for confirmation, can find it quickly.

Second, through a combination of lifestyle and medication, diabetes can be controlled effectively.

diabetes-528678_1280 — Diabetes is treated with a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. Many diabetic persons monitor their blood sugar regularly.

Diagnosing Diabetes

Anyone can develop diabetes; even children and teenagers are developing it now.

Anyone with these symptoms persistently should see their doctor, as they can indicate undiagnosed diabetes.

extreme thirst
increased hunger
significant weight loss without trying
unexplained fatigue
blurry vision
frequent urination
tingling hands and feet
sexual problems
sores that don’t heal
heat intolerance in warm weather

We know that some people are at greater risk- so they should be tested for diabetes even without symptoms

Persons at higher than average risk include

older age, especially over age 40
overweight/obese persons
women with a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
Black, Native American and Hispanic persons in the United States; (worldwide various other ethnic groups are at higher risk)
Family history of diabetes, especially if in a parent or sibling
Persons with high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol

It is especially important to control blood pressure and cholesterol when diabetes is present. — Control of blood pressure and cholesterol when diabetes is present.

Detailed information about diabetes can be found here

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases-Diabetes Overview

Exploring the HEART of Health

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How we give new meaning to “happy campers”

Child abuse is underrecognized and underreported but estimates are that as few as 4% to as many as 30% of children worldwide experience some sort of maltreatment- physical injury, emotional abuse, neglect, sexual assault or exploitation.

For one week I was the doctor at an exclusive summer camp for children age 7 through 11 years. Only a few children are accepted to this camp from those who qualify. There are strict requirements for admission, but once a child qualifies, they can return every year until they reach 11. Both boys and girls are recruited to attend.

So exclusive is this camp that the ratio of staff to children is almost one to one. Some activities are done in large groups; others are done in groups of four campers with at least 2 adults. There were adult staff in charge of leading music, teaching crafts, hiking, fishing, swimming and drama presentations. Additional staff came each evening for special programs and a birthday party for everyone. Since we were there the week of Independence Day, there was a fireworks show one evening.

Three hot meals, served all-you-can-eat style, and snacks were provided daily. Assisted by a registered nurse, I oversaw treatment of any injuries, assessed illness and dispensed medications. The campers slept in air-conditioned cabins with full bath facilities, supervised by adult staff.

The total cost of running this 5 day camp is in the tens of thousands of dollars; the cost to each child’s family-nothing. Sound wonderful to you? The kind of camp you would like to send your child or grandchild to? No, it isn’t.

This camp is exclusive but you can’t buy your way into this camp. It is not for the children of the rich and famous, celebrities, entertainers, politicians, or doctors. This camp is reserved for children who are in the foster care system- children who have been abused, neglected and/or abandoned by their parents.

A special camp for special kids

Royal Family Kids has been confronting abuse and changing lives since 1990 by sponsoring these camps . The camps are staffed by local people for children in their community. All are volunteers. Funds to pay for the camp are raised by individual and corporate donations, grants, and old fashioned fund raisers like pie auctions .

Child abuse is a preventable, treatable medical condition- and a crime.

The American Academy of Pediatrics calls it “a public health problem with lifelong health consequences for survivors.”

The World Health Organization calls it a “global priority” due to its potential impact on social and economic development.

All organizations that deal with child abuse agree that prevention is much more effective than treating the effects of abuse.

Many of these children land in the foster care system which can be another form of abuse. Foster children may be shuffled from one home to another without warning, separated from siblings, leaving behind personal possessions like clothes, toys, books and photos. They have few opportunities to do normal kid activities like summer camps, family vacations, play sports and music lessons.

Why Royal Family Kids

That is why our camp is so important. For their week at camp, each child gets caring attention from safe adults, many of whom return year after year. The goal of the camp is to create positive memories for kids who have few. Each craft is carefully packed to go with the child, as is a small photo album filled with pictures of their activities at camp.

For the sake of their privacy and protection, I cannot show pictures of the children to you, but these photos from the camp give you an idea of the fun things they did that week. Most important, they are taught that their life has value and that they can overcome the challenging situation that has brought them here.