Diabion – vitamins for diabetics

Diabion is being introduced by distributors, Oscar Francois Limited with a campaign focussed on World Diabetes Day which was observed last Sunday. Several events geared toward increasing knowledge of the disease were held leading up to World Diabetes Day activities on Saturday sponsored by Oscar Francois and hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Diabetes Association (TTDA).

Supporters participated in a health walk from Long Circular Road to the St James Amphitheatre where a free health fair was hosted. The Association also launched its website where persons can go to get information on the TTDA and the disease. Other events sponsored by Oscar Francois related to diabetes awareness included a lecture on diabetes awareness by Dr Hector Pimentel, to pharmacists at the Royal Hotel in San Fernando last Friday and a breakfast meeting for pharmacists at the Marriott Hotel on World Diabetes Day.

Anyone over the age of 12 with diabetes who wants to prevent and delay the complications associated with diabetes and maintain their healthy lifestyle can benefit from taking Diabion. According to information provided on Diabion, a diabetic cannot take ordinary multivitamin products. Diabion is the first formula with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals specifically designed for the needs of a diabetic.

Developed by Merck, the parent company of Seven Seas, Diabion is a specially formulated supplement to help combat oxidative stress and improve quality of life in diabetics.

Benefits of the multivitamin include: Vitamin A which helps in wound closure process and helps maintain a good vision, Vitamin B1 which increases energy and helps the smooth operation of the nervous and muscular system, specifically the heart, Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid which regulate the quantity of sugar in the body, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and are essential for the good health of the nervous and cardiovascular systems and Vitamin E which reduces tiredness and together with Vitamina C, Zinc, Chromium, Selenium and Magnesium offers more antioxidant protection.

Once the multivitamin is taken as part of a healthy nutrition plan, exercise and diabetes medicines, Diabion supplies nutrients in the precise amounts required by people with diabetes and can improve the quality of life of the diabetic.

The multivitamin can also assist diabetics in handling stress. Stress adversely affects diabetics as it raises blood sugar levels and results in an increase in the need for insulin. People under stress most likely are not taking very good care of themselves. This can be very dangerous to diabetics as they may stray away from their meal plans and deviate from their exercise routines.

Taking a daily multivitamin may assist with regulating the symptoms during times of stress. Diabion ensures the diabetic obtains the vitamins and minerals that required to reduce or avoid oxidation, atherosclerosis and other diabetes complications. In addition the diabetic will receive the minerals lost because of improper kidney function.

Oscar Francois Limited in collaboration with the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee have come together to help educate and build awareness about Diabetes Mellitus in our country.

Diabetes Mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar for one of two reasons, either because the body does not produce enough insulin or because cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 develops if the body is unable to produce insulin and Type 2 develops when the insulin produced is not enough or cannot be utilised by the body.

An estimated 175, 000 persons are living with diabetes in Trinidad and Tobago. Diabetes Mellitus is an extremely serious disease and is the source of many other major health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease and dental disease. Eighty percent of persons affected with Type 1 diabetes do not know they have the disease.