Diabetes – we can’t ignore it
Have we truly given Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease much consideration? Diabetes effects over two million people in Australia alone with approximately 750,000 Australians suffering from Type 2 Diabetes unknowingly!
Diabetes is a result of the pancreas being unable to make sufficient insulin, a hormone that metabolises glucose. Without sufficient insulin the body builds up glucose in the bloodstream rather than it traveling into the body’s cells where energy is made. There are 2 types of Diabetes, ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’ Diabetes can occur at any age and is a result of the pancreas being unable to produce insulin because the cells that make it have been destroyed by the body’s own immune system.
At this stage, in order to survive, people with ‘Type 1’ Diabetes, must inject themselves with insulin daily. The cause of ‘Type 1’ Diabetes is still unknown but it does have a strong family link and living a healthy lifestyle is imperative to manage the condition.
‘Type 2’ Diabetes effects 85-90% of people living with diabetes and whilst traditionally it was common in mature adults, increasingly more younger people, including children are being affected by this condition due to leading unhealthy lifestyles. ‘Type 2’ is strongly associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and those with excess weight around the mid section. People with ‘Type 2’ do not make enough insulin and even though their body tries to make more, they eventually experience a glucose imbalance.
Common Symptoms of Diabetes include:
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Feeling Tired and Lethargic
- Having cuts that heal slowly
- Blurred Vision
- Gradually putting on weight
- Headaches
- Leg Cramps
- Passing more urine
- Always feeling hungry
- Itching, skin infections
- Unexplained weight loss (Type 1)
- Mood Swings
- Feeling Dizzy
The risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes can be reduced by as much as 60% by increasing our level of physical activity; maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and in turn managing our weight; managing our blood pressure and cholesterol levels and for those smokers out there, giving up smoking.
In Care Central can help with exercise and healthy balanced meal programs so contact us
Contact
hello@incarecentral.com.au
1800 008 090
PO Box 291
Buderim Qld. 4556
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