Did you know that in NSW 4 people are diagnosed with diabetes every hour*?
What is it?
Diabetes is the name given to a group of different conditions in which there is too much glucose in the blood.
However, we need to maintain healthy levels of glucose in our blood for our bodies to work properly.
Glucose is carried around our bloodstream and is the main source of energy for our bodies.
The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone necessary to allow the glucose to enter cells and be converted to energy.
In people with diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t make any insulin, or enough insulin to work effectively and the glucose stays in the blood instead of being turned into energy.
High blood glucose can cause damage to impact on many parts of the body including, heart, brain, kidneys, feet and EYES!
Diabetes and eye disease
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in Australians aged under 60. The development of retinopathy is strongly related to the length of time diabetes has been present and the degree of blood glucose control. Regular checks and treatment can prevent blindness caused by retinopathy.
For more information:
Signs and symptoms of diabetes.
*National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), March 2015
