If you’ve been newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, managing your new condition and changing your lifestyle can be daunting.
We explore what you need to know about Type 2 Diabetes and how you can manage it with the help of your local Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist.
Type 2 Diabetes: What is it?
While we don’t know the exact genetic causes of Type 2 diabetes, it’s a condition where your body has become resistant to the normal effects of insulin1.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by your body to break down blood sugars (glucose) that are found in your food so it can be used for energy. If you’ve got diabetes, your body can’t produce enough insulin or use it effectively to turn your glucose into energy1.
This means your body gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas, and it’s likely by the time that you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, you have lost 50 to 70 percent of your insulin producing cells1.
Type 2 Diabetes represents 85 to 90 percent of all cases of diabetes, and usually develops in adults over the age of 45. However, it is increasingly occurring in younger age groups, including children, adolescents and young adults1.
Some symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes include1:
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Blurred vision
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Mood swings
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Always feeling hungry
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Having cuts that heal slowly
Ensuring that you know your glucose levels is important, as it can cause long-term damage to your health.
“Over time, high glucose levels can damage your blood vessels and nerves, resulting in long term health complications including heart, kidney, eye and foot damage,” explains Aurelia Captari, Professional Services & Compliance Pharmacist at Blooms The Chemist.
What causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Although we said earlier that the exact genetic causes of Type 2 Diabetes are unknown, there are risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Some of these risk factors include2:
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A poor diet
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For women, you can get Type 2 Diabetes by having a baby that weight over 4.5kgs, having had gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome
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A family history of type 2 diabetes
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A low level of physical activity
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Being over the age of 55
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Being overweight or obese, especially with excess weight around the waist
Certain groups of people are also more likely to get Type 2 Diabetes if they’re over the age of 35, including2:
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People with Pacific Islander, Southern European or Asian backgrounds
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
How you can manage Type 2 Diabetes
You can manage your Type 2 Diabetes with the help of your healthcare team, which can include your doctor, Pharmacist and more.
Your healthcare team may suggest that you make changes to your lifestyle, which include3:
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Eating foods that keep your blood glucose levels (or blood sugar levels) low
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Exercising regularly to regulate the insulin in your body
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Monitoring your blood glucose levels with regular testing to ensure your treatment is working
“Getting an early diagnosis and making sure you’re self-managing your diabetes effectively have been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes-related health complications, including damage to your heart and feet,” Aurelia says.
“Work with your healthcare team and your local Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist to make sure you’re getting the right treatment that can help you manage your diabetes."
“We offer a Diabetes Monitoring (Blood Glucose Monitoring) Health Service nationwide that monitors your blood glucose levels for free, which can really help you keep your blood glucose levels low.”
Blooms The Chemist is also proud to be a part of the National Diabetes Services Scheme, a nationwide scheme that aims to help people with diabetes get access to a range of services, supports and subsidised products.
For more information about what diabetic products are subsidised, please visit the NDSS products page.
References
1Diabetes Australia, Type 2 Diabetes, accessed 3 July 2023
2Healthdirect, Type 2 Diabetes, accessed 3 July 2023
3 Diabetes Australia, Managing Type 2 Diabetes, accessed 3 July 2023