19/05/2026
📸 PHOTO FOCUS – COMMUNITY OUTREACH
On 9th May 2026, the Mulungushi University Biomedical Sciences Students Association continued its community outreach through Health Pulse on Zambezi FM 94.1 with their 6th session on "Diabetes – Understanding your numbers"
The session was hosted by Lwiito Siangoma, joined by speakers Dr. Lukundo Siame and Mr. Pius Kumwenda.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot properly use sugar for energy because of a problem with insulin, the hormone that helps sugar enter your cells. Sugar builds up in the blood instead.
Types of Diabetes:
📌 Type 1: Body attacks its own insulin-producing cells. Usually starts in childhood. Needs insulin injections.
📌 Type 2: Body becomes resistant to insulin. Linked to lifestyle and genetics. More common in Zambia.
📌 Gestational: Happens during pregnancy. Usually resolves after birth but increases risk of Type 2 later.
Causes & Risk Factors:
🔹 Family history (genetics)
🔹 Being overweight or obese
🔹 Physical inactivity
🔹 Poor diet (too much sugar and processed food)
🔹 High blood pressure
🔹 Age (risk increases after 45)
Early Signs:
⚠️ Excessive thirst
⚠️ Frequent urination (especially at night)
⚠️ Unexplained weight loss
⚠️ Blurred vision
⚠️ Slow-healing wounds
⚠️ Extreme tiredness
Hyperglycemia vs. Hypoglycemia:
📈 Hyperglycemia (High Sugar): Thirst, frequent urination, tiredness. Damages body slowly over years.
📉 Hypoglycemia (Low Sugar): Shaky, sweaty, confused, dizzy. Can kill within minutes. Give sugar immediately – juice, soda, glucose.
Ketone Bodies & DKA:
🔥 When the body cannot use sugar, it starts burning fat instead, producing ketones. High ketones cause Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) – nausea, vomiting, fruity breath, confusion. This is an emergency. Go to the clinic immediately.
Testing – How the lab helps:
🔬 Blood Glucose Test (Finger Prick): Tells your sugar level right now.
🔬 Fasting Blood Sugar: After 8 hours of no food. Normal is below 5.6 mmol/L.
🔬 HbA1c: Shows your average sugar over 3 months. No fasting needed.
Treatment & Management:
💊 Lifestyle: Healthy diet, exercise, weight management
💊 Oral medication: Tablets to help the body use insulin better
💊 Insulin injections: For Type 1 and some advanced Type 2
💊 Monitoring: Regular blood sugar checks
Prevention:
✅ Eat more vegetables and less sugar
✅ Move your body – even walking helps
✅ Maintain a healthy weight
✅ Get tested regularly if you have risk factors
Myths we addressed:
❌ "Eating sugar causes diabetes" – Not directly. But poor diet increases risk.
❌ "Diabetes is a death sentence" – False. With proper management, people live long, healthy lives.
❌ "Diabetes is only for fat people" – False. Even slim people can get it. Genetics play a big role.
❌ "Diabetes is for the rich" – False. It depends on genetics and lifestyle, not money.
❌ "Insulin is a punishment" – False. It is life-saving medicine.
❌ "Traditional herbs can cure diabetes" – False. They may help symptoms but do not cure
What you can do:
✅ Know your numbers – get tested, especially if you have family history, are overweight, or have high blood pressure
✅ Know the emergencies – shaky and sweaty? Low sugar. Take sugar immediately. Nausea, vomiting, fruity breath? High sugar with ketones. Go to the clinic now.
✅ Prevent where you can – eat better, move more, maintain healthy weight
✅ If diagnosed, manage it – take your medication, check your sugar, protect your feet, see your doctor regularly
Diabetes is not a curse. It is a medical condition. With proper care, you can live a full, healthy life.
Thanks to our speakers and to Zambezi FM for the platform.
