Over 850,000 Australians have been diagnosed with diabetes.It is estimated that the same number agian may have diabetes but not know it!

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease. For our bodies to work properly, we need to convert glucose from food to enery; insulin is essential for this conversion. In diabetics, insulin is no longer produced in sufficient amounts by the body. As a result the glucose stays in the blood rather than being converted to energy.

There are two types of diabetes. NIDDM (Non Insulin Dependent) Type 2 and IDDM (Insulin Dependant) Type 1

NIDDM: Type 2 is th most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of the people with diabetes. Whilst it usually affects older adults, more and younger people and even children are getting type2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin but it is not produced in the amount  that the body requires and it therefore does not work efficiently. Type 2 diabetes results from a combinatin of gentic and environmental factors. Type 2 diabetes can often be initially managed with healthy eating and regular physical activity. However, over time most people with type 2 diabetes will also need tablets and many will need insulin. there is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes.

IDDM: In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, the bodies cells cannot turn glucose into energy. Without  insulin, the body burns its own fats as a substitute. Unless treated with daily injections of insuin, people with type 1 diabetes accumulate ketones in the blood. This can ead to ketoacidosis which can present as thirst, confusion, increased breathing, dry skin/ mouth, abdominal pain, fruity breath and even loss of consciousness. Patients who are significantly ill with diabetic symptoms should present to the emergency department. Patients with severe diabetic symptoms are managed with inravenous fluids and insulin. Long term management is done hrough taking blood samples and using insulin to manage blood glucose levels.

Insulin manufactured synthetically is taken to process the bodies glucose. This can not be taken orally as the gastrointestinal prteins destroy its effectiveness. Therefore insulin is taken in an injectable form, usually just into the fat under the skin of the tummy.

For more information regarding diabetes, please see DaibetesAustralia link in links page.