Last week was National Diabetes Week.
According to Diabetes Australia (2020), diabetes is when the body does not or insufficiently converts glucose (sugar) from food into energy, resulting in high blood glucose levels.
Glucose is the main source of energy for our bodies. In people with diabetes, the hormone insulin, which assists in the conversion process, is not produced or is produced to insufficient amounts by the body. Therefore, when people with diabetes eat glucose (such as breads, cereals, fruits and starchy vegetables), it cannot or is inadequately converted to energy.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ?
โข Heart attack;
โข Stroke;
โข Kidney disease;
โข Limb amputation;
โข Depression;
โข Anxiety;
โข Blindness;
(Diabetes Australia, 2020)
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
According to Diabetes Australia, there are different types of diabetes; the three most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
๐๐ฆ๐๐ 1:
Currently type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented.
๐๐ฆ๐๐ 2:
Evidence shows type 2 diabetes can be prevented in up to ๐ฑ๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ of cases by:
โข Maintaining a healthy weight;
โข Regular physical activity;
โข Making healthy food choices;
โข Managing blood pressure;
โข Managing cholesterol levels;
โข Not smoking;
๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐บ๐:
โข Being more thirsty than usual;
โข Passing more urine;
โข Feeling tired and lethargic;
โข Always feeling hungry;
โข Having cuts that heal slowly;
โข Itching, skin infections;
โข Blurred vision;
โข Unexplained weight loss (type 1);
โข Gradually putting on weight (type 2);
โข Mood swings;
โข Headaches;
โข Feeling dizzy;
โข Leg cramps;
For diabetes education sessions within your workplace or community networks, please contact workplacehealth@gmhg.com.au or call 0456 387 569.