Diabetes

Diabetes remains a significant threat to the health of Australians, with the number of Australians diagnosed with diabetes having more than doubled between 1989-1990 and 2004-2005.

Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot maintain normal blood glucose levels. It is a significant cause of death and disability in Australia and is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination and sudden, unexplained weight loss. When undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can result in long term damage, dysfunction and failure of virtually every body organ, especially the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

Diabetes is caused by resistance to, or deficient production of, the hormone insulin, which helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. When the body does not produce or use enough insulin, the cells cannot use glucose and the blood glucose level rises.

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.