Diabetes
Summary
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood are too high. Blood glucose levels are normally regulated by the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas. In people with diabetes, the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or there is a problem with how the body's cells respond to it.
Around 7.4 per cent of Australians aged 25 years or older have diabetes. The risk of diabetes increases with age: from 2.5 per cent in people aged 35 to 45, to 23.6 per cent in those over 75. Aboriginal people have one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world.
Symptoms of diabetes
Some types of diabetes have no symptoms, and can go undiagnosed for a long time, but some common symptoms can include:
Types of diabetes
The main types of diabetes are called type 1 and type 2. Other varieties include gestational diabetes, diabetes insipidus and pre-diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Approximately one in every ten Australians with diabetes has type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is much more common in Australia than in other countries. Type 1 diabetes is:
There is no cure, but type 1 diabetes can be successfully managed with insulin injections, nutrition and exercise.
If a person with type 1 diabetes skips a meal, exercises heavily or takes too much insulin, their blood sugar levels will fall. This can lead to a hypoglycaemic reaction. The symptoms include dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache and change in mood. This can be remedied with a quick boost of sugar (such as jellybeans or glucose tablets), then something more substantial such as fruit. A person with type 1 diabetes should have lollies on hand at all times, just in case.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is sometimes described as a ‘lifestyle disease’ because it is more common in people who don’t do enough physical activity, and who are overweight or obese. It is strongly associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an ‘apple’ body shape, where excess weight is carried around the waist.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, affects 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabetes. While it usually affects mature adults (over 40), younger people are also now being diagnosed in greater numbers as rates of overweight and obesity increase. Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes or mature onset diabetes.
Research shows that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with early lifestyle changes. However, there is no cure.
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood are too high. Blood glucose levels are normally regulated by the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas. In people with diabetes, the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or there is a problem with how the body's cells respond to it.
Around 7.4 per cent of Australians aged 25 years or older have diabetes. The risk of diabetes increases with age: from 2.5 per cent in people aged 35 to 45, to 23.6 per cent in those over 75. Aboriginal people have one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world.
Symptoms of diabetes
Some types of diabetes have no symptoms, and can go undiagnosed for a long time, but some common symptoms can include:
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Passing more urine
- Feeling tired and lethargic
- Slow-healing wounds
- Itching and skin infections, particularly around the genitals
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Mood swings.
Types of diabetes
The main types of diabetes are called type 1 and type 2. Other varieties include gestational diabetes, diabetes insipidus and pre-diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Approximately one in every ten Australians with diabetes has type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is much more common in Australia than in other countries. Type 1 diabetes is:
- Caused by an autoimmune destruction of insulin-making cells in the pancreas, which means insulin is no longer made
- One of the most common chronic childhood illnesses in developed nations
- Most common in people under 30, but can occur at any age
- Sometimes called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, although these terms are no longer in common use.
There is no cure, but type 1 diabetes can be successfully managed with insulin injections, nutrition and exercise.
If a person with type 1 diabetes skips a meal, exercises heavily or takes too much insulin, their blood sugar levels will fall. This can lead to a hypoglycaemic reaction. The symptoms include dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache and change in mood. This can be remedied with a quick boost of sugar (such as jellybeans or glucose tablets), then something more substantial such as fruit. A person with type 1 diabetes should have lollies on hand at all times, just in case.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is sometimes described as a ‘lifestyle disease’ because it is more common in people who don’t do enough physical activity, and who are overweight or obese. It is strongly associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and an ‘apple’ body shape, where excess weight is carried around the waist.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, affects 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabetes. While it usually affects mature adults (over 40), younger people are also now being diagnosed in greater numbers as rates of overweight and obesity increase. Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes or mature onset diabetes.
Research shows that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with early lifestyle changes. However, there is no cure.