What should I know about type 2 diabetes?
If you have type 2 diabetes or know someone who does, you’ll have seen how important it is to keep on top of the condition daily. But what are the complications associated with diabetes and the risk factors that can lead to developing the condition? Find out below!
What is diabetes?
Glucose is our body's main source of fuel and a hormone called insulin is key in turning glucose into energy.
A person with diabetes is unable to produce any or sufficient insulin. This means glucose isn't turned into energy effectively and the level of glucose in their blood rises to an unhealthy level.
What complications are associated with diabetes?
A snag in the working relationship between glucose and insulin can have some serious short and long-term health effects across the whole body. These include a higher risk of1:
- Stroke
- Foot issues and lower limb amputation
- Blindness
- Dental and skin infection
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Depression, anxiety, and stress
Lifestyle changes to make and maintain
The good news is you can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by following a healthy lifestyle. This is especially important because it’s possible to have pre-diabetes (being at high risk of type 2 diabetes) without any accompanying signs of symptoms2.
Keep these healthy habits to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes3:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay active
- Eat a healthy, varied diet
- Manage your blood pressure
- Manage your cholesterol
- Don't smoke
Am I at risk of type 2 diabetes?
There is no single indicator of a person’s likelihood to develop type 2 diabetes. Instead, there are several risk factors, including4:
- Having a family history of the illness
- Carrying excess weight
- Not being physically active
- Eating a diet that is poor in essential nutrients
- Being over 55 years old
- For birthing people/people with ovaries:
o Giving birth to a baby over 4.5 kg
o Having had gestational diabetes
o Having a polycystic ovarian syndrome - There is an increased risk associated with being Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, South European, or Asian
Did you know you can calculate your risk of type 2 diabetes online?
What symptoms can signal diabetes?
Early diagnosis is important for managing type 2 diabetes. If you are experiencing these symptoms, make an appointment to speak with your GP.
- Increased hunger and thirst
- Passing more urine than usual
- Changes in weight
- Lethargy
- Itchy skin
- Increased infections (fungal or bacterial)
- Wounds that won't heal (such as sores and cuts)
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Pain or tingling in legs or feet
Add these people to your diabetes support team
Due to the range of complications that type 2 diabetes can cause, it’s important to have a wide healthcare team to help tackle the condition together. Your team may include your:
- Family and friends
- Psychologist, counsellor or social worker
- Pharmacist
- Dietician
- Exercise physiologist or physiotherapist
- Endocrinologist
- Podiatrist
- Optometrist or ophthalmologist
- Indigenous community elders or health workers
