Diabetes
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where the levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood are too high due to problems with the hormone insulin and how it works in the body. Around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes, and the prevalence within Australia is growing. Around 280 Australian’s are diagnosed with diabetes each day!
Without proper management, untreated diabetes can lead to serious health problems including blindness, amputations, kidney damage, heart disease, and even death.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Some symptoms of diabetes occur suddenly and are easier to notice, while others may come on gradually and go unnoticed for a long time.
Common symptoms include:
- Extreme thirst
- Urinating more frequently, or producing higher volumes of urine
- Feeling tired
- Always feeling hungry
- Slow-healing cuts
- Mood swings
- Feel dizzy
- Blurred vision
What factors increase the risk of developing diabetes?
While Type 1 diabetes is not linked to contributing factors within your control, contributing factors which increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (the most common type), include:
- Older age
- Being overweight
- Having high blood pressure
- Smoking
- Low levels of physical activity
- Diet low in fruits and vegetables
How your PharmaSave Pharmacist can help
Ask your pharmacist how they can help you assess your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, or, if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, ask your pharmacist how they can help you manage and monitor your condition to decrease the risk of developing serious complications. You can find your nearest PharmaSave Pharmacy here.