As our obesity rates increase scarily in Australia, so too does the incidence of diabetes.

What do you think of when you hear the word Diabetes? When I was a child I didn’t know much about it at all, in fact when it came to Diabetes I used to think that meant you needed to eat jellybeans. Nobody I knew had Diabetes. In today’s society, it is a common disease and I now know more people than I care to with the disease.

Diabetes is a disease where you are unable to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. Your body needs insulin to be able to use glucose. Diabetes results when insulin is either not produced (by the pancreas) or cannot be used properly by the body. The main characteristic of diabetes is a very high level of glucose in both the blood and urine. Over time, high blood glucose levels may damage blood vessels and nerves.

It is important to know there are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 = the immune system damages the pancreas (which produces the insulin) and it no longer produces insulin. It cannot be prevented and lifestyle does not play a role.

Type 2 = your body cannot produce enough insulin or the insulin does not work properly. Often referred to as ‘the lifestyle diabetes’ it is directly related to lifestyle factors. It also accounts for the majority of diabetes cases.

There are many risk factors for diabetes, some of which are modifiable.

Some risk factors include:

• Age (as your age increases so does your risk)
• Overweight around stomach/torso area
• Genetics
• High blood pressure
• Gestational diabetes

Some of the symptoms associated with diabetes include:

• Frequent urination
• Extreme fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Tingling in hands/feet
• Infections
• Blurred vision

Approximately 700,000 Australians (nearly 4% of the population) have diabetes, with many more going undiagnosed. Diabetics are 2-4 times more likely to develop cardio vascular disease than non-diabetics. If diabetes goes untreated, there are many physical problems that can occur:

• Blindness
• High blood pressure
• Impotency in men
• Kidney complications
• Heart disease
• Limb amputation

Diabetes is a serious problem that is on the rise in Australia. Reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight and good blood pressure through good nutrition and exercise. Early detection is the best way to manage diabetes. So see your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms or if you have any questions or concerns.