The Central Coast Community Health Survey 2014 estimated that of Central Coast adults aged 18 years and over, 10% had been told by a doctor or hospital they had diabetes and of these, 75% have Type 2 diabetes.
Check your risk…what’s your score? by doing the AUSDRisk assessment…
So what is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic (long term) disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, lower limb amputations, nerve damage and damage to the kidneys and eyes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
Many Coasties, particularly those over 40, are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes through any one of these lifestyle factors:
- Not enough physical activity
- Poor nutrition
- Being overweight
- Smoking
Other factors that increase risk are:
- Being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Being a male
- Having a family history of diabetes
- Ethnicity/country of birth.
In approximately 58% of cases of type 2 diabetes, the condition can be delayed or prevented by reducing weight, increasing physical activity, improving diet and stopping smoking.
Want to feel motivated? Then watch this link
The Central Coast Local Health District, Diabetes Services, provide information, education and support for people with diabetes, their families and carers. Our team includes diabetes nurse educators, a dietitian and social worker to help both children and adults manage their diabetes
Health assessment for people aged 40 to 49 years with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes
The home of Diabetes Australia
The FREE Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service can help provide you with the support and motivation you need to reach your own healthy lifestyle goals.
Watch this to find out more.
With this in mind, there is opportunity to promote healthy eating and active living across organisations on the Central Coast to help reduce prevalence of the disease.
The new Central Coast Local Health District’s Diabetes Plan and Model of Care are important to address the increasing rate of diabetes on the Central Coast – about 10 per cent of adults living in the region have diabetes, mostly type 2 diabetes.
This is the first Diabetes Plan and Model of Care for the Central Coast created in partnership between the Central Coast Local Health District, the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network and Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services, with input from consumers.
The Plan aims to address health promoting environments and education among communities and health professionals.
Lifestyle related risk factors, including overweight and obesity, are major contributors to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. The Central Coast Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service and Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services have a range of programs in place in the community to increase physical activity levels, increase fruit and vegetable consumption and ultimately, reduce levels of overweight and obesity in children and adults.
