Kenyans on Saturday took part in the annual Kenya diabetes walk.
The walk was organized by the Diabetes Management information in partnership with Safaricom.
But even as this happened, it is clear that Diabetes has become a killer disease in Kenya and the initiative can only be appreciated as one of the methods to help spread the word about this disease so that lives can be saved.
So what is this nightmare called diabetes? Kenyans still have a lot to learn about diabetes so that they can manage and control the disease.
First, diabetes is a long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin while in type 2 the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function.
There is also another type of diabetes known as gestational diabetes which affects expectant women.
However, type 2 diabetes is the most common of all. Diabetes is not curable although it can be managed if a patient follows diet and medication properly as instructed by the doctor.
Among the symptoms you should watch out for are frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
It is important to watch your weight since overweight people are at a higher risk of getting diabetes. Smoking is also dangerous for a patient with diabetes and should thus be shun in all means.
Even if you are not participating in the annual diabetes walk physically, you may also partner with them by spreading helpful information about diabetes.
That way, more lives will be saved.