DIABETES is set to become Victoria’s number one health issue. With almost 10,000 newly diagnosed cases in the 12 months to February, there are now more than 323,000 Victorians registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme.
Peak consumer body Diabetes Victoria estimates a further 125,000 Victorians currently live with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, which chief executive Craig Bennett describes as “a major problem”.
“If left untreated, blood glucose levels can continue to rise and damage your body over time.” Mr Bennett said many people do not have any symptoms in the beginning.
“They might feel there is nothing wrong, until they develop one of the many diabetes-related health complications like heart disease, blindness, loss of a limb, or kidney damage.
“This is why type 2 diabetes is often called the silent killer.” Recent data also shows the vast majority of the 323,300 Victorians diagnosed have type 2 diabetes (87 per cent).
Type 1 diabetes accounts for 9 per cent of all Victorian diabetes registrations.
The figures also show that more than two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes are aged over 60.
“We provide programs, training courses, information, resources and other services to help people recently diagnosed with diabetes,” Mr Bennett said.
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational.
- Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition, which rapidly results in complete insulin deficiency and requires lifelong insulin replacement for survival. It is not related to any lifestyle factors and cannot be prevented.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and can be triggered by being inactive or carrying excess weight around the abdomen. It can run in families and it is often associated with high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Unlike type 1 diabetes, where the body destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to the levels it is producing.
- Gestational diabetes needs to be managed carefully to protect the health of the mother and the unborn baby. It is usually resolved upon delivery. However, women who have had it have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.
- diabetesvic.org.au ndss.com.au
