What is Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that affects specific cells of the pancreas. These cells are no longer able to produce a vital hormone called insulin. Insulin helps regulate the body’s blood glucose levels.

Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition caused by an ineffective insulin release and/or a resistance to work effectively, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels.  Type 2 Diabetes is generally attributed to family history, poor diet choices, reduced exercise, increased abdominal weight and is more commonly diagnosed in middle/later life.

FACTS & FIGURES

Did you know:

  • 4.9% of people living in Australia have a diagnosis of diabetes - that is 1,176,179 million of 23,933,718 million people
  • 1 person every 5 minutes develops diabetes [that is 280 people day]
  • Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of all diabetes diagnosis - totalling 117,917 people
  • Type 2 diabetes accounts for 86.7% of all registered diabetes diagnosis - totalling 1,019,707 Victoria has a 5% prevalence of diabetes - that is 294,234 thousand of 5,932,753 million people

* Facts and Figures were valid as from 30/06/2015 and supplied by the National Diabetes Services Scheme.  For further information please visit www.ndss.com.au/diabetes-map