More than half a billion people now live with diabetes, with 1 in 9 people expected to have diabetes by 2030.
Diabetes is a condition impacting your ability to maintain normal glucose (sugar) levels in the blood through a hormone called insulin. Without proper management diabetics are at an increased risk of developing other health conditions such as a stroke, heart attack, vision loss, kidney failure, liver damage, sexual dysfunction and lower-limb amputation.
You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have:
- a family history of diabetes
- unhealthy eating habits
- high blood pressure
or are
- overweight
- older in age
- physically inactive
How can it be prevented?
Type 1 diabetes currently cannot be prevented, however, there are several ways to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, such as:
- Getting regular exercise
- Eating healthy foods
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Stop smoking
- Managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Look out for common warning signs of diabetes such as:
- blurry vision
- excessive thirst
- losing weight without trying
- urinating frequently
- low energy
- tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
- frequent infections
- wounds that heal slowly
Find more of our health tips here.
Book an appointment with us here or call us on 9651 5559.
Sources:
Diabetes Australia. About diabetes. https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/about-diabetes/
International Diabetes Federation. 2022. About World Diabetes Day. https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/understandingdiabetes/