Education protects our future

film “The not-so-sweet story of a saved heart” is the first sugar painting educational video about diabetes. It tells the story of a cordial relationship between a granddaughter and a grandfather, who transmits to her the love of music and gives her violin lessons. When she begins to suffer from diabetes, the girl, in turn, to help her beloved grandfather, learns what diabetes is and how to accompany a loved one in everyday life with the disease. The story of the film’s protagonists shows that knowledge of the patient’s illness is just as important as understanding between family and friends. It is “education that can protect our future” – to save a cordial relationship, but also the heart of the patient, who needs special care in diabetes. Cardiovascular complications, including strokes and heart attacks, are the most dangerous consequences of diabetes. Anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes or has a family history of the disease should be aware of the risks it can pose and know what to do to prevent them.

Conscious and responsible patient

Due to its specific nature (it can destroy the body slowly and often without the patient’s knowledge), diabetes is a serious challenge. Therefore, as the only non-communicable disease, it has been defined by the World Health Organization as an epidemic of the 21st century.

– Few diseases, like diabetes, have a comprehensive impact on a patient’s life and require commitment at all levels of life – said the prof. dr hab. not. med. Leszek Czupryniak, Head of Clinic for Diabetology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw – It is the patient’s responsibility to take care of their health and their future. Therefore, he and his environment must understand what diabetes is and what it can involve.

Thanks to this knowledge, adaptation of their way of life and well-chosen treatment, people with diabetes have the opportunity to live healthy lives for many years, and yet – as the film entitled “Not quite a sweet story about a saved heart” – we live not only for ourselves, but also for our loved ones.

The words of Professor L. Czupryniak take on special significance, especially in the context of statistics. They show that every 8 seconds someone dies from complications of diabetes. In Poland, almost 3 million people suffer from diabetes and another five are at risk. The most common risk factors for diabetes include a sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits leading to overweight and obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. And although theoretically we can influence each of these factors, these disturbing statistics prove that Poles still lack the knowledge, determination and consistency to change their lives. Therefore, education is needed among people of different generations to not only effectively treat but also prevent diabetes and its complications.

Complications worse than diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a social disease and can affect anyone. It develops at all ages, both in women and in men. Treatment usually consists of understanding the essence of the disease, reducing weight, implementing the principles of proper nutrition and physical activity, and regularly taking diabetes medications.

Although in the common understanding diabetes does not kill, it is considered one of the most dangerous diseases of civilization due to complications, far more dangerous than the disease itself. These mainly include: cardiovascular disease (people with diabetes are twice as likely as healthy people to suffer a heart attack or stroke), diabetic retinopathy (causing loss of vision), nephropathy (causing kidney failure), neuropathy (damage to peripheral nerves) and diabetic foot (sometimes leading to limb amputation).

“The Not-So-Sweet Story of a Heart Saved” is a video the whole family should watch. Drawn literally with sugar, the approximately 5-minute story draws attention to how diabetes can change everyday life, but this change can also bring a lot of good. Health and close relationships are one of the most important values. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Education is the best recipe for today and tomorrow. – advises Prof. L. Czupryniak.

The story painted with sugar “Not quite a sweet story of a saved heart”, took place during events organized on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, including the conference of the Polish Association of Diabetes, which is the honorary sponsor of the “Long Live Diabetes” campaign, as well as the Virtual Conference campaign partner mojacukrzyca.org. The video is visible on the site www.dluzszezyciezcukrzyca.pl and FB Live longer with diabetesas well as on the websites of the campaign partners.