Did you know? One Australian is diagnosed with diabetes every 5 minutes!
That’s 280 people EACH . and . EVERY . single . day!
More than 100,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year making Diabetes the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia; increasing at a faster rate than other chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
All types of diabetes are increasing in prevalence:
- Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of all diabetes and is increasing
- Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85% of all diabetes and is increasing
- Gestational (diabetes in pregnancy) is increasing
According to Diabetes Australia “Diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century and the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system” and with stats like these we couldn’t agree more.
The Australian Government estimate around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.2 million known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated). Even if you and your loved ones don’t have diabetes you can bet this disease is costing you with the total annual cost impact of diabetes in Australia estimated at $14.6 billion.
But Diabetes isn’t really all that serious, you just quit sugar and you’re all good… Right?
WRONG! Diabetes is a very serious health condition.
Here’s the scary stuff…
BLINDNESS – yep it’ll send you blind
- Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia.
- Between 25% and 35% of Australians report some form of diabetic retinopathy (where the blood vessels that supply to the retina in the back of the eye are damaged by high blood sugar levels).
- 15% of Australian diabetics suffer diabetic macular edema, where your blood vessels leak fluid into your macular causing it to swell and your vision to be lost.
AMPUTATION – umm no thanks!
- Every year there are 10,000 hospital admissions in Australia for diabetes-related foot ulcers in Australia – many of these end with people having a limb, or part of a limb, amputated [4].
- There are more than 4,400 amputations every year in Australia as a result of diabetes [5].
- …and if that doesn’t do it for you how about knowing in 2005, more than 1000 people with diabetes died as a direct result of foot ulcers and lower limb wounds – around 8% of all diabetes related deaths.
Part of combating diabetes is knowing the warning signs and finding out your level of risk of developing diabetes in the future. Diabetes Australia have developed a risk assessment calculator that can estimate your risk of developing diabetes in the next 5 years. Click here to assess your diabetes risk.
How to reduce your risk
My Health for Life
My health for life is a free, healthy lifestyle program for Queenslanders who are at high risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Activate Physiotherapy run the My Health for Life program from our south (Gumdale) and north (Stafford Brisbane) locations.
Designed to support positive behaviour change, the program helps eligible participants plan and action small lifestyle changes that have long term health benefits. The program involves six sessions overs six months and is delivered by qualified health professionals. Participants have the choice of group sessions or phone coaching options. Group sessions in local areas work well for people who enjoy social interaction and learning from others’ experiences while phone coaching appeals to those whose work or life situation make it difficult for them to commit to set days and times.
My health for life recognises that everyone has their reasons for improving their health whether it is losing weight, eating better or moving more.
To express your interest in My Health for Life at Activate Physiotherapy contact us here.
Otherwise you can check your eligiblity or undertake a free online health check, at www.myhealthforlife.com.au or call 13 RISK (13 7475).
If you or someone you know has diabetes speak to your GP or specialist about how an Accredited Exercise Physiologist can help.