Adult Onset Diabetes
Did you know that Adult Onset Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease?
Almost 1,500 people are diagnosed every week – that’s 214 people every day — and for every person who knows they have it, another has the disease but doesn’t know it. That’s scary and Diabetes Australia expects the number of people with Type 2 Diabetes to reach 1.8 million by 2010.
So why is Adult Onset Diabetes on the rise? Well the truth is we’re eating more, particularly highly processed food that is high in fat and sugar, and we’re exercising less. On top of that most people are just flat out busy and stressed with the day to day demands of work, finances and raising a family.
I was shocked when my mother was recently diagnosed with Adult Onset Diabetes. She doesn’t look like she would be a candidate — she isn’t overweight, looks easily 10 years younger than she is and has a reasonably healthy, active lifestyle – and she had no symptoms to speak of apart from a little numbness in one foot which was diagnosed as a pinched nerve a few years ago.
It’s a huge wake up call because it’s a very serious disease and if you have a relative who has diabetes, you’re even more at risk.
So who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
- Over 55 years of age
- Over 45 years of age and have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
- Over 45 years of age and have high blood pressure
- Over 45 years of age and overweight
- Over 35 years of age and from an Aboriginal, Torres Straight Islander, Pacific Island, Indian sub-continent or Chinese cultural background
- Have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose intolerance (ITG)
- Have heart disease or have had a heart attack
- Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
- Have polycystic ovarian syndrome and are overweight
Source: Diabetes WA
If you’re like me and you have one or more of the above risk factors, perhaps it’s time you consulted your GP for a check up and blood glucose test.
If you have been newly diagnosed with Adult Onset Diabetes or know someone who has and you’re looking for a wellness strategy that incorporates body, mind and spirit, Death to Diabetes: The Six Stages of Type 2 Diabetes Control & Reversal by DeWayne McCulley may be just what you’re looking for.
September 29 2008 12:41 am | adult onset diabetes