Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes, affecting about 10% of Australian adults. Its frequency is increasing dramatically throughout the country.
Whilst people with type 1 diabetes have insufficient insulin production (insulin is unavailable), those with type 2 diabetes have faulty insulin action (insulin is present, but the body has trouble using it). This so-called ‘insulin resistance’ develops very slowly. As a result, at the time of diagnosis, individuals with type 2 diabetes may have had the disease for several years, and often do not feel particularly unwell. However, over a period of many years, type 2 diabetes can cause significant health problems.
Like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys and feet, especially if blood glucose is not controlled. Type 2 diabetes also carries a much greater risk of heart disease and stroke. These risks can be reduced by treatment of high cholesterol and high blood pressure in addition to glucose control.
Two important causes of insulin resistance that explain much of the increased incidence of type 2 diabetes in Australia are physical inactivity and obesity. Accordingly, physical exercise and a change in diet are important treatments for all people with type 2 diabetes. Another effective treatment is ‘lapband’ surgery, which leads to sustained weight loss of around 30% and dramatically improves type 2 diabetes.
Other treatments available in Australia include medications that improve insulin action (eg. metformin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone), increase insulin production (eg. gliclazide, glimeperide, glibenclamide) or decrease glucose absorption from food (acarbose).
Although most people with type 2 diabetes do not require insulin injections at the time of diagnosis, after several years of type 2 diabetes, the body may lose the ability to make insulin so that insulin injections are required.
The high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the high personal and financial costs of its treatment and complications make this disease a national health priority. Prevention strategies that increase opportunities for exercise and healthy eating are being implemented in several communities and should help reduce the number of people developing type 2 diabetes. There is also intense research into the causes of insulin resistance in the expectation that this will lead to improved treatments for type 2 diabetes.
Want to know more? Check out these websites for information and fact sheets about type 2 diabetes in Australia.
Diabetes Australia, Victoria - Type 2 Diabetes
The Better Health Channel - Type 2 Diabetes
