Diabetes Australian Stats
HEALTH STATUS Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels resulting from the body not producing insulin or using it properly. ... In diabetes, the pancreas either cannot make insulin or the insulin it does make is not enough and cannot work properly. ... Glucose builds up in the blood leading to high blood glucose levels, which causes the health problems linked to diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1. ... ”V Non-Insulin dependant Whether it”¦s Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the aim of any diabetes treatment is to get your blood glucose levels as close to the non-diabetic range as often as possible. For people with Type 1 diabetes, this will mean insulin injections every day plus leading a healthy lifestyle. For people with Type 2 diabetes, healthy eating and regular physical activity may be all that is required at first, sometimes tablets and/or insulin later on. Type 2 is by far the most common form, affecting 85-90% of all people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease and is strongly associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the typical ”„apple shape”¦ body where there is extra weight around the waist. Diabetes has been listed as one of Australia”¦s six priority areas; it is the sixth highest cause of death in Australia and is Australia”¦s fastest-growing chronic disease. 520,000 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes. Although it is suspected that 1,040,000 actually have the disease because Type 2 diabetes has symptoms that go unnoticed as the disease develops gradually. Symptoms may include any of those for Type 1 diabetes plus blurred vision, skin infections, slow healing, tingling and numbness in the feet. ... People at risk of Type 2 diabetes include persons with a family history of diabetes, from certain ethnic backgrounds, women with a history of GDM and the elderly.