Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, as people become more sedentary, exercise less and consume more processed foods. The number of people living with diabetes has doubled since 1980 to around 350 million. While increasing numbers are being diagnosed in developing countries, where emerging middle classes are eagerly adapting to a Westernised diet, data confirms that Australia is no exception to the trend.
An Obesogenic Society?
If you thought that, as Australians, our outdoor lifestyle and love of sport would have proved somewhat immune to this phenomenon, you would be very wrong. An estimated 1.7 million Australians are currently living with diabetes and alarmingly 275 of us develop the condition every day.
Diabetes Australia CEO Lewis Kaplan confirms this trend: “We are on a very similar trajectory to the data coming out of other developed countries. The one difference is that - for a variety of reasons - some of our ethnic minorities have very high incidences of the condition. As a society we have become more sedentary, which combined with a diet of processed foods, all leads to what one could call an obesogenic society. As a nation we are getting fatter.”
Diabetes and Your Lifestyle
Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, though the more common Type 2 is linked to poor lifestyle choices, with lack of exercise and a inadequate diet thought to be contributing factors. Another is the related rise in levels of obesity - nearly two thirds of Australian men and half of all Australian women are either overweight or obese. Indeed, exercising is key to stemming this growing tide, though how you exercise is increasingly thought to be crucial to an effective regime.
“Research actually points to regular bouts of activity throughout the day being more beneficial – as opposed to say a single bout,” Kaplan observes.
If you are looking for specific lifestyle guidance, Diabetes Australia recommends reducing your calorie intake, with the aim of getting your body mass index (BMI) under 25. This can be achieved by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
The Cost of Diabetes
Even though diabetes is effectively a silent epidemic, the cost of treating the condition is significant. Not only do people living with diabetes require costly medication and treatment, the condition leads to medical complications that can include heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and loss of vision. The knock-on effect on the public health service is estimated to be in the region of $6 billion per annum.
The key message from Diabetes Australia is that diabetes is a complex, serious condition that is difficult to manage, with far reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Only if people are educated to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are we going to be able to avert the ongoing impact of the condition on our resources and broader society.
Contact Diabetes Australia on 1300 136 588 for more information, resources and advice on the condition.
