Diabetes WA - Preventing Diabetes

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Diabetes is a serious disease and currently has no cures. Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease, with approximately 275 people across the nation developing the condition every day.

In Western Australia alone, there are now more than 107,000 people diagnosed with diabetes. For every person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is estimated that there is another person who is not diagnosed. If left undiagnosed, or unable to achieve target ranges, it can lead to being at risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, amputation and erectile dysfunction.

The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented through positive lifestyle changes. In fact, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 60% by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and following a healthy eating plan.

Diabetes WA has a team of health promotion practitioners who work with the community and a range of organisations to promote the prevention of type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic diseases. This work includes a number of campaigns, programs and services that help reduce the risk factors and promote early detection for type 2 diabetes.

Risk factors which may make you more susceptible to developing diabetes include:

Being over 40 years of age

Having a parent, brother or sister with diabetes

Having had gestational diabetes when pregnant

Being over 18 years and of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander or Maori descent

Being of Asian, Middle Eastern, North African or Southern European descent

Having pre-diabetes

Having heart disease or having had a stroke

Having polycystic ovary syndrome

Taking medication for a mental health condition

Having high blood pressure and/or taking blood pressure medication

Being overweight - waist measurement over 80cm for women and 94cm for men

Doing little to no physical activity

Smoking tobacco

To prevent diabetes you need to:

Be physically active: participate in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day

Eat well: enjoy a variety of healthy food including at least 2 fruit and 5 vegetables a day, choose lean meats, reduced fat dairy products and eat wholegrain breads and cereals

Maintain a healthy weight

Limit alcohol intake

Quit smoking

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