Diabetes in Australia

Diabetes is a condition affecting the body’s ability to take glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream to use it for energy.

“Diabetes is a chronic disease, characterized by hyperglycemia or high levels of glucose, which is caused by deficient insulin production and/or resistance to its action.” – [National Health Priority Areas Report, Diabetes Mellitus, 1998. page 19.]

This developmental disease is caused by the improper functioning of the pancreas. The pancreas produces insulin to enable glucose to pass into the cells. If there is insufficient insulin, the glucose can not enter the cells.

**If there is insufficient sugar in the blood, the condition is known as hypoglycemia (low). Too much sugar in the blood is known as hyperglycemia (high.)

Diabetes produces a high level of blood sugar if untreated. A person with diabetes has an increased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Diabetes is also linked to kidney failure, nerve disease in the lower limbs and blindness.

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type One Diabetes

[Insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM)]

The body produces minimal amounts of insulin or none at all. Sufferers need injections as an artificial supply. This type is an auto immune disease where the body starts to attack itself. It is frequently seen in children although it does occur in some adults. This has complete deficiency of insulin.

Type Two Diabetes:

[Non- insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)]

The pancreas has the ability to produce insulin but the amount is in sufficient and/or less effective. It is a common chronic disease in those aged over 40 years. There is insufficient insulin produced or the body is unable to use the insulin produced. This type does not normally require insulin. The people affected by this type of diabetes need to follow a careful diet and also need to engage in an exercise program/routine.

Gestational Diabetes:

This is usually a temporary form of diabetes and generally disappears after the baby is born. However, this form of diabetes has the potential to enable a marker of much greater risk of developing type two diabetes later in life. This form of diabetes can be dangerous for the baby.

Due to a huge number of cases remaining undiagnosed, it is hard to determine the extent of diabetes.
In all age groups, rates of diabetes are higher in males than females.
Over the last twenty years, there has been a significant increase in diabetes within Australia.
Australia has the 9th highest rate of diabetes in the world.
Up to approximately 300 000 people have type – 2 diabetes without even knowing it.
Diabetes increases considerably with age- in particular after 65 years.
The rates of type two diabetes in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are among the highest in the world.
As many as one third of an indigenous community may have diabetes.
Strokes are four times more common in diabetes than in non-diabetics.
The direct cost of diabetes is approximately 4 million each year.
Unfortunately, people whom suffer diabetes experience a reduced life expectancy.
People who suffer diabetes are more likely to engage in major health problems involving the kidney’s, eyes, and nerves and arteries.
Diabetes can contribute to coronary artery disease, stroke and vascular disease.
Female diabetics are more likely to develop coronary artery disease than non-diabetics, whilst on the other hand; males are two time more likely.
Diabetes contributes to blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
People with circulatory diseases may be under-reported on death certificates.
The incidence of childhood diabetes has increased in developed countries.

For Type One Diabetes:

No actual risk factors have been clearly identified.

May be a genetic link

Children whom were breast fed for a shorter time and introduced to cow’s milk.

For Type Two Diabetes:

Being over 50 and having high blood pressure

Being over 50 and over weight

Being over 50 and having one or more family members with diabetes

Being over 65

Having had heart disease or a heart attack

Having high blood sugar levels during pregnancy

Those with high intakes of alcohol

Those with high intakes of saturated fats and refined sugar

Those who engage in little or no physical activity

Being over 35 and being an Aborigine or Torres Strait Islander

Being over 35 and having a Pacific Island, Indian or Chinese background

High blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat molecule)

High cholesterol

Tobacco smoking

Low birth weight

Having had gestational diabetes

For Gestational Diabetes:

Similar to risk factors of type two diabetes.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS

Diets high in fat and high risk behaviors are more likely to be engaged by disadvantaged people. People suffering low socioeconomic status tend to have higher death rates and higher levels of illness in comparison to those who do not suffer such circumstances.

EDUCATION

Poorly educated people are more likely to get diabetes due to having a lack of knowledge. They find it difficult to read food labels, and do not know and understand the signs and symptoms of disease, and do not know how to prevent the disease.

EMPLOYMENT

Having increased work demands, leads to having not enough time to eat a proper meal, encouraging the consumption of fast fat foods, which are high in fat, low in fiber, high in salt and sugar. Skipping meals affects the blood glucose levels of an individual.

AGE

The incidence of childhood diabetes has increased in developed countries. Due to erratic patterns, hormonal changes and sicknesses during the year, control of diabetes in children is hard to control. Cardiovascular in the elderly is more likely to occur due to diabetes. Diabetes increases in the aged population.

LOCATION

Rural and remote areas are more commonly known to have diabetes in comparison to urban areas. Most common is overweight and obesity, as well as the consumption of alcohol.

CULTURE

Due to language, it may be difficult to comprehend and understand certain health and medical services where they may gain access. Asian and Pacific Islanders are high at risk of getting diabetes. Contributing is the lack of physical activity, obesity and poor screening. Low birth weight increases the chance of diabetes. The changed from cultures contributes to suffering diabetes.

SEX

If a woman is pregnant, they have an increased risk of getting Gestational diabetes and an increased risk of type two diabetes later in life. Due to diet and physical activity, the prevalence of diabetes in males over the age of 40 increases.

Children and adolescents

Those with family history

Indigenous Australians

People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (Chinese)

People from rural and remote areas

Aged Australians

Obese people

Those who eat a high fat diet

Physically inactive people

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