By JESSE GRAHAM
A HEALTHCARE worker has warned community members to be wary of diabetes risk factors, after a dramatic rise in diagnoses in the Yarra Ranges.
Eastern Health announced on 2 July that the number of people with diabetes in the Yarra Ranges had risen by 180 per cent over a decade from 2003-2013.
Diabetes educator Jenny Williams said that Type 2 diabetes was the most prevalent form of the condition, making up around 90 per cent of all diabetes cases.
Despite the rising diabetes figures, Ms Williams said she felt that not many people in the community were utilising services, such as those offered by Yarra Valley Community Health.
“It’s really scary – it also means a lot of people out there are at high risk and are not doing anything about it,” she said.
She said that diet and lifestyle – including alcohol consumption – were two important factors when it came to risk of Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure, high blood fats and cholesterol were all warnings for the condition.
Ms Williams said many people had fears about seeing a doctor to determine if they had diabetes, but added that if they did not seek help when they had the condition, they could be putting themselves at risk.
She said that untreated diabetes can lead to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, depression and even sexual problems.
Many myths and misunderstandings still surround diabetes, and Ms Williams said that one of these was the belief that Type 2 diabetes can be cured – it can’t.
“Once you develop Type 2, it won’t go away,” she said.
“You can reduce the symptoms and control it, but it doesn’t go.”
To allay any concerns, Ms Williams is urging anyone who believes they may be at risk of developing diabetes to see their GP for a check-up.
Eastern Health’s Yarra Valley Community Health runs a Healthy Living and Diabetes Program to offer support for people living with, or at risk of developing, Type 2 diabetes.
For more information, call 1300 130 381.
