DAILY CHECKS: Nigel Freeman has type-2 diabetes and prepares to inject himself with insulin. Nigel is one of 6400 people in Ipswich who live with diabetes. Diabetes has become an epidemic in the area. Claudia Baxter
DIABETES has reached epidemic proportions in Ipswich with 6400 people suffering the potentially deadly condition.
Health officials are concerned at the increase of cases across Ipswich over the past four years.
Figures released by Diabetes Queensland highlights their concern for Ipswich, which has had a 36% rise in type-2 diabetes over the past four years.
Diabetes Queensland CEO Michelle Trute said the findings might be linked to the dramatically increasing rates of diabetes prevalent in regional Queensland.
"More than 6% of Ipswich residents live with diabetes, which is just under the state average of 8.6%," she said.
"The diabetes epidemic is a clear and present danger in Ipswich and I believe this may be driving the heightened concern."
One of those 6400 people is Bundamba resident Nigel Freeman, who was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes seven years ago.
The disease was picked up after he underwent a medical for his job.
The diagnosis came as no surprise to Mr Freeman, as diabetes runs in his family. Since then his daily routine includes checking his blood sugar levels.
"I started off by changing my diet, then I went on to tablets and insulin," he said.
"Now it's a matter of going back to the start and watching my diet."
Mr Freeman said Ipswich had all the specialists needed to treat the disease.
West Moreton Hospital and Health Service chief executive Lesley Dwyer said many people did not know they were at risk of developing the disease.
"It is essential that people understand the risks and complications associated with all forms of diabetes, and most importantly, that they recognise the symptoms and cause," she said.
"Type-1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin and is managed with insulin injections several times a day or the use of an insulin pump and cannot be prevented or cured at the present time.
"In type-2 diabetes obesity and inactivity are the leading causes of this disease, so keeping your weight down and increasing your physical activity can help reduce your risk."
Rising concern
Go to faceofdiabetes.org.au for more information on diabetes 6400 Ipswich residents have diabetes 8.6% of Queenslanders have diabetes
Published on : Sunday, July 21, 2013
Category : Diabetes
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