What do you need to know about diabetes?

It's National Diabetes Week.  Every week, 280 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes. A further two million already have pre-diabetes and many more are at moderate risk of developing the disease over the next few years. Yet research shows that 80% of Australians do not believe they are at risk of the condition.

As more and more people become affected by diabetes, it is increasingly being perceived by the general public as a common condition and the signficance of the illness can be missed. So what is all the fuss? What do you need to know about diabetes?

Diabetes is a progressive, chronic condition with varied, complex and serious complications.  It is in part brought on by certain lifestyle traits and it is possible to delay the onset of the disease by maintaining a healthy diet, weight and exercise levels.  Over time poorly controlled diabetes results in long-term damage - it is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults; the leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis; is a risk factor for heart disease and strokes; and a major cause of limb amputations.  There is no such thing as mild disease - the longer you prevent developing diabetes and the better you control it once you are diagnosed, the better your chances of avoiding serious complications.

To find out your risk of developing diabetes within the next five years try this diabetes risk calculator. These fact sheets provide more detailed information about diabetes and Diabetes Australia is a great resource for advice on lifestyle modification, diet, treatment and support for those affected by the condition.