Diabetes champion p. 5

only patient,” she explained.

“Diabetes is a quiet disease and in case you suspect you have the symptoms, please go to the clinic and once there, it’s not the end. Diabetes is a journey and requires a lot of discipline. I advise diabetes patients to come to KNH; attend the lessons/ classes on how to manage it. Those classes helped me. The nurses here in the diabetic clinic like Maria, supported me from the onset till am no longer a patient but a friend.”

“I want to thank the staff in the diabetic clinic. They are very efficient; they take their time with a patient and do their best to make sure you have enough knowledge to manage the disease,” said an elated Ms. Nzuva.

Diabetic Neuropathy is a serious and common complication of type 1 and 2 diabetes. It’s a type of nerve damage caused by long-term high blood sugar levels. The condition usually develops slowly, sometimes over several decades.

Some of its symptoms include; numbness (which may become permanent), tingling, pain, burning (especially in the evening), or weakness in your hands or feet.

These are early symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The danger is usually when you can’t feel pain and an ulcer develops on your foot.

In cases of severe or prolonged peripheral neuropathy, you may be vulnerable to injuries or infections. In serious cases, poor wound healing or infection can lead to amputation.

Maria Rimberia, a Senior Nurse in the diabetic clinic, told Newsline how Lucy has been a much-disciplined patient. “Taking care of her wounds was a team effort; we analyzed her wounds to determine the dressing material required and medicine.’

“At some point, she felt discouraged and wanted to even sell her car since she felt she might never walk again. We kept on encouraging her because we had experienced worse cases than hers and they got better,” Maria explained.

“Initially she could not walk; she was in a wheelchair. Diabetes wounds can be stubborn and take time to heal. It takes the cooperation of the doctors and the patients to work as a team to hasten the healing. Lucy was a really good patient and was eager to learn more on how to manage her condition.”

“She’s now a friend to us and whenever we need her, she’s just a phone call away. Sometimes we request her to come to talk to other patients at the clinic with similar conditions and restore hope to them,” Maria concluded with a smile.

There are different types of diabetic neuropathy that affect different areas of your body, causing a variety of symptoms. If you have diabetes, it’s important to regularly check your blood glucose levels and contact your doctor if you notice any symptoms of neuropathy.

“Kenyatta National Hospital is a healing point anytime”, emphasized Ms. Lucy Nzuva.

PHOTO | STOCK

PHOTO | YVONNE GICHURU Ms. Lucy Nzuva smiles as she is joined by her nurse Ms. Maria Rimberia, a Senior Nurse in the diabetic clinic during the Newsline interview