National Diabetes Week 2017 kicks off on July 9th and runs until July 15th, 2017.
With over 1.2 million Australians living with diabetes, this is a condition that more and more Australians are experiencing. Every year as many as 640 Australian’s end up in hospital with dangerously high blood glucose levels because the early symptoms of type 1 diabetes – severe fatigue, thirst and weight loss – are not recognised. Around half of these hospital admissions are children and teens and if not diagnosed in time type 1 diabetes can be fatal.
This year’s theme for ‘National Diabetes Week’ is all about early diagnosis and effective management.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This is due to a lack of insulin, or the body’s way of converting glucose into energy not working properly.
Types of diabetes:
Type 1: is an auto immune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin and rely on insulin injections to survive.
Type 2: is the most common type of diabetes, and is usually a result of hereditary factors and lifestyle risk factors including poor diet, insufficient physical activity and being overweight or obese.
Coast Sport comprises of a team of allied health experts who can assist in effectively managing diabetes and enhancing the quality of life for diabetics.
Coast Sport making living with diabetes easier
The team at Coast Sport are here to help those living with diabetes to effectively manage and take control of the condition, see below how our various practitioners and service modalities can assist, all conveniently under the one roof.
Feel well
Eat well for good health
If you have type 2 diabetes, or are at risk of developing diabetes, knowing what and how to eat is essential for maintaining good blood glucose levels and good health.
But when it comes to diet, there is no one-size fits all approach to suit everyone.
If you have type 2 diabetes following a healthy diet and exercising can help you lose weight and make it easier for you to manage your condition. It can also help prevent complications associated with diabetes like issues with your eyes, kidneys, feet and legs or heart. If you have prediabetes, losing weight and keeping it off could stop you from developing type 2 diabetes, and support long term good health and wellbeing.
Our Coast Sport Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) and an Accredited Sports Dietitian (ASD), Jo Allan can tailor nutritional plans to help you to effectively manage Diabetes.
More about Jo Allan
Move well
How diabetes can affect your feet
Your feet are supplied with blood to keep them healthy. They also have lots of nerves that act as a communication and warning system. However, if your diabetes is poorly controlled for a prolonged period this can lead to nerve damage.
When you have nerve damage and or poor circulation, you will need to take extra care to protect your feet from injury and wounds. Many foot problems in people who have Diabetes occur when injuries and wounds, as well as infections go unnoticed and untreated, or when healing is delayed due to poor circulation. This can result in serious and severe foot issues.
Matt Shanahan our Coast Sport Podiatrist takes a special interest in diabetes and is available to provide advice, treatment and effective management strategies for diabetic sufferers.
More about Matt Shanahan
Perform well
Exercising with diabetes
There is compelling evidence that Type 2 diabetes is more likely to develop in individuals who are sedentary.
Exercise is a cornerstone treatment of diabetes alongside diet and medication. The goal for treatment of diabetes is blood glucose control. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetic complications such as cardiovascular disease; peripheral artery disease; neuropathy and retinopathy.
Did you know: Coast Sport offer a Group Diabetes Program that involves a supervised 60-minute exercise session under the guidance of our accredited Exercise Physiologist, Leigh-Anne McBride.
Find out more about Leigh-Anne McBride our Exercise Physiologist
Click here for more about the ‘Benefits of exercise for managing diabetes’
Coast Sport is the leader in provision of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Exercise Physiology, Sports Nutrition, and Massage Therapy services to Central Coast communities. The Coast Sport team utilise an integrated care approach to ensure optimal health and vitality for our patients and will do all in our power to help them to effectively manage diabetes.
Mariners Medical is also located on the ground floor to enable easy access to a GP, 7 days a week.
Call us today and take control of diabetes, phone (02) 4356 2588 or book online.
Helping the Central Coast Feel Well, Move Well and Perform Well!