Central Coast News

National Diabetes Awareness Week – July 10th-16th

Around 1.7 million Australians currently live with diabetes, and the number is increasing each day. As July 10th-16^th marks National Diabetes Awareness Week, local doctors and exercise physiologists at Reliance GP Super Clinic West Gosford are offering their services and support to the community to tackle the growing problem.

Platinum Physiotherapy’s resident exercise physiologist, Daniel D’Avoine explains “Diabetes is a serious condition, depending on the type, the body either cannot produce or respond to insulin in the blood, to make sugar into energy”. Potential complications include heart disease, stroke, blindness, limb amputation, kidney failure and erectile dysfunction.

Davoine says Australians are less concerned about diabetes than most other conditions and underestimate their risk of developing it. “Our modern diets and lifestyles are adding to the problem” says D’Avoine . The Central Coast has the highest rate of obesity in NSW, with 30-60 % of residents being classified as obese.

“You don’t have to be overweight to develop diabetes, but obesity will increase the risk” explains Reliance Medical Director, Dr Theresa Colina. Other risk factors include; family history of diabetes and/or heart disease, inactive lifestyle, high blood pressure, hormonal problems such as polycystic ovaries, and ethnicity.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke. “It is the most common cause of blindness, and the second most common cause for kidney failure’’ says Colina. Every day there are around eight limb amputations due to diabetes. **

“The good news is, we know a lot about the causes and we can do our best to reduce the risk or aid treatment” says D’Avoine. “We want people to know that support is available, that it’s not as scary as you may think to make these small lifestyle changes – but it will be worth it”.

On behalf of Reliance GP Super Clinic, Daniel D’Ávoine is offering free 10 minute assessment of risk factors for diabetes during July and August. Daniel will assess risk factors and offer advice for getting started on an exercise regime and healthy eating plan. Patients who may not have diabetes are also encouraged to come along too, for clinical advice on how to make small healthy changes to your lifestyle.

To book a screen call Reliance on 0243 041 333 or make an appointment online.

*Highest rate of obesity in NSW as at 2013 according to ABS survey results Sources:

http://www.healthstats.nsw.gov.au

** Source: http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

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