Did you know that two million Australians have Pre-Diabetes and approximately 5-10% of people develop Type Two Diabetes each year? Pre-diabetes occurs when your blood glucose levels are elevated but not elevated enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes.
Pre diabetes can be classified by two conditions:
Impaired fasting glucose: This means that your blood glucose levels are higher than normal after fasting for eight hours, however they are not high enough for a Diabetes diagnosis.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance: Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, two hours after an oral glucose tolerance test, but not high enough to be diagnosed as Diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes represents approximately 85-90% of all Diabetes cases. Type 2 Diabetes is generally a condition that develops over a few years. Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, a history of Gestational Diabetes, carrying excess weight, elevated cholesterol levels, poor diet and limited physical activity.
In those with Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the insulin is not working effectively and as a result, blood glucose levels become higher than normal. Prolonged high blood glucose levels can result in short term complications such as fatigue and dehydration, as well as longer term consequences such as damage to your blood vessels and nerves.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes include:
Not all people with Type 2 Diabetes will have symptoms of concern. Having a Diabetes screening test with your doctor will inform you of your Diabetes status. For those with Type 2 Diabetes, it is important to seek appropriate healthcare and treatments that reduce blood glucose levels back to the target range, to reduce the risk of complications.
Type 1 Diabetes is generally diagnosed in those under the age of 30, however it can occur at any age. It is considered an autoimmune condition and not the result of poor eating or exercise habits. There are 134,000 Australians currently living with Type 1 Diabetes. In those with Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin as the immune system destroys the body’s insulin making cells. This means that without replacement insulin, the body is unable to use glucose as energy for its cells.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes include:
If you are concerned that you may have Diabetes, please speak with your General Practitioner.
Gestational Diabetes affects approximately one in six pregnancies. It is diagnosed when higher than normal blood glucose levels appear during pregnancy. Most of the time, women with Gestational Diabetes will not have Diabetes once the baby is born.
Some risk factors for Gestational Diabetes:
Helpful Links for those with Diabetes or those interested in learning more about Diabetes: