On November 14, 2014, the World Diabetes Day, the Educational-Leisure Centre for Youth SPAJALICA, hosted a lecture on the topic of “Living with diabetes”. The lecture was intended for students of Prva osnovna škola Ilidža, Srednja grafi?ka škola (Graphics School), ?etvrta gimnazija and the International High School of Sarajevo. November 14 is the World Diabetes Day, intended to inform the general public about the importance of early diagnosis of diabetes.
The lecture for students of Sarajevo schools was held by Emina Jusupovi?, senior at the School of dentistry from Sarajevo, who was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 13.
One of the most indicative symptoms of diabetes are frequent urination, increased consumption of water, dry throat and increased hunger. Although in the beginning diabetics may eat excessively, they also lose weight rapidly. Women are at risk of frequent vaginal infections, while one of the symptoms in men can be sexual dysfunction. Diabetics often experience shaking and slower healing of wounds. Those are some of the symptoms to look out for, said Emina Jusupovi? during her lecture.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which blood sugar levels (glucose) are higher than normal. Diabetes means that the body is not producing enough insulin, or the produced insulin is not functioning as it should. This leads to a spike in blood sugar levels, i.e. diabetes.
I remember the very beginning, I was losing weight rapidly and drank more water than usually. Mom asked me if I was ok, and I said I was, because I didn’t know what was happening in my body. At school, teachers would ask me why I was sleepy and some pointed out that I looked tired. The first time I took insulin was very difficult, my parents couldn’t explain to me how to administer the therapy, but with time you get used to anything, said Jusupovi?.
This year, the World Diabetes Day was celebrated with a lecture on treating diabetic youth and education about diabetes in order to help youth understand the symptoms of diabetes and learn to manage this condition which affects a significant number of people in BiH.
The most important thing is to accept diabetes as your best friend. I used to tell my friends, when I carried insulin in my bag, that I literally have my life in my hands. Now that I also have a pump which regulates blood sugar levels, I say that I literally have my life in my pocket, said Emina Jusupovi?.
During the lecture it was emphasized that there are new methods in treating diabetes and that insulin is not the only form of treatment. Modern science and medicine are introducing new oral medication, and treatments are different. Special emphasis was put on the fact that the number of persons with diabetes is on the rise in the world, and represents a health problem and financial problem which puts at risk all the people in BiH who have not been diagnosed with diabetes on time
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