What is Diabetes ?
Diabetes has been identified as a priority health issue as it significantly affects the health of Australians. It is a chronic condition that affects the body's ability to produce any or enough insulin which causes a disturbance in the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Diabetes is a hereditary or developmental disease caused by the irregular functioning of the pancreas. There are three types of diabetes; Type 1 and Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes (diagnosed in pregnancy).
Diabetes Symptoms; Excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds and vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken for the flu).
Diabetes Symptoms; Excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds and vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken for the flu).
Type 1 Diabetes |
Type 2 Diabetes |
Type 1 Diabetes is the hereditary diagnosed type and accounts for 10-15% of all diabetes cases. Type 1 is where the pancreas fails to produce insulin. With out insulin, the body cannot turn glucose (sugar) into energy therefore making individuals with type 1 diabetes dependent on daily insulin injections. Unless injected with daily injections of insulin, an individual with type 1 diabetes will have an increased quantity of dangerous substances in the blood as a result of burning of the fat. There is no exact cause that is known to the development of type 1 diabetes, there is also no cure. If type 1 diabetes is left untreated (without insulin injections) there can be complications that can put an individual at risk of other health conditions such as; kidney damage, poor blood circulation to the lower limbs and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Type 2 Diabetes is the most common as it accounts for 85-90% of all diabetes cases. The common cause to type 2 diabetes is overweight/obesity, high blood pressure, increasing of age, family history, physical inactivity and smoking. Type 2 is where the pancreas makes insufficient amounts of insulin which doesn't meet the required quantity that the body needs to convert glucose into energy. Type 2 diabetes can be dealt with by regular physical activity and healthy dieting although individuals with type 2 diabetes will need tablets and insulin over time. Using tablets and insulin at the beginning of the development of diabetes will further reduce complications in the long - term.
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