Yes you can do something about Type 2 diabetes

The story of one man who did

Norman Day hoped the weather would be a good sign. It was a ‘sunny sort of morning’, as he sat in the doctor’s waiting room preparing himself for the results of his blood test. Deep down he had a feeling that the news would not be good but it was still a shock when he heard, 'I’ve got bad news for you, you have diabetes.'

'I thought it was the end,' recalls Norman, almost a year after his GP told him he had Type 2 diabetes and would have to go on an immediate diet and exercise program.
The 60-year-old grandfather of six, who lives in the New South Wales Central Coast town of Berkley Vale, made the trip to the doctor after seeing a television commercial made by Diabetes Australia. 'I kept seeing the TV ad advising people to ask their doctor about their blood glucose level, BGL, and decided to get a check-up.'

Norman says he didn’t know whether he had diabetes but he hadn’t been ‘feeling the best’. 'I started getting itchy toes and sore feet. I was also thirsty, which I now know are symptoms of diabetes. I was overweight and had a shocking diet.' Norman worked for himself which meant long hours, sometimes 16-hour-days and no exercise. He lived alone, which meant irregular meals and too many meat pies.

Norman’s life changed the day he was told he had Type 2 diabetes. When he walked out of the doctor’s surgery, he should have felt devastated. Instead he was inspired by his conversation with his straight-talking young doctor. 'He told me diabetes wasn’t the end of my life. He said I would have to lose weight, change my diet and exercise.'

'It’s your body, it’s up to you,' the doctor told Norman. 'I can help you with a diet and exercise plan to manage your diabetes without tablets. We know what you have to do, let’s get on and do it,' was the blunt advice.

The key to everything says Norman was the doctor’s attitude. 'He was so positive. When he said, ‘I’m here if you ever need me’, I thought, well I have diabetes now, I’ll have to do something about it.'

Norman went and saw an eye specialist, a podiatrist, a dietitian and a diabetes educator. He followed his doctor’s Care Plan taking up swimming, cycling and walking and lost about 17 kilos. 'I watch my diet now and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. No more pies,' he adds, fondly remembering his pie-eating days The doctor advised Norman to monitor his blood glucose levels daily and to buy a blood pressure machine. 'I’ve also taken his advice and don’t get stressed at work any more. It’s not worth it.'

In the months following his diagnosis Norman became a member of Diabetes Australia and set about learning as much as he could about diabetes. With good management he’s seen his blood glucose levels come way down from the high levels he experienced on diagnosis.

Following his health scare, the Berkley Vale grandfather has become an active campaigner on diabetes. He says he was discussing his diabetes one day with Barry, a friend of his who agreed to go and get his BGLs checked. Barry was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes but the story doesn’t end there. Norman says Barry got his wife to have a blood test and she too was diagnosed with diabetes.

Norman says his life changed after seeing 'that ad on TV 'but he regrets he wasn’t diagnosed earlier. ‘If only I had known,' said Norman, a sad comment repeated often to Diabetes Australia’s dietitians and educators. 'Why couldn’t they have got this across to me 15 to 20 years ago', he said.

The experience hasn’t left Norman feeling bitter about life. Rather he describes himself as a lucky man. 'I have a brilliant doctor. I am in control and I’ve never looked back.' But his fight isn’t over. He knows he has made great progress in managing his diabetes and he’s determined to improve his blood glucose control. 'If I really tried I could get it even lower.'

BGL campaign finds people with diabetes
Norman Day is just one of many people diagnosed with diabetes following the launch of the Be Well Know Your BGL campaign in July last year. A survey of new members of Diabetes Australia found that 6% were diagnosed after asking their doctor about their blood glucose levels. Norman says his doctor told him he was diagnosed when his diabetes was in its early stages, which highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

The good news is that international trials show that Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented by lifestyle changes. Nearly 60% of people who took part in a landmark Diabetes Prevention Program carried out in the United States among a diverse group of more than 3,000 overweight people with impaired glucose, provided scientific evidence that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. The trial found that modest weight loss-5% to 7% of body weight, and increased physical activity, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes each day can reduce a person’s risk of developing diabetes.

Who has diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases and has reached pandemic proportions around the world. The increase is due mostly to our modern lifestyle. 80%-90% of people who are diagnosed with Type 2, are obese or overweight.
Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease and is the 6th leading cause of death. More than a million Australians have the disease and half don’t know they have it –yet. In the 12 months to December 2002, more than 60,000 people were diagnosed with diabetes, that’s 1,153 every week.

Complications include increased risk of heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation and erectile dysfunction in men. People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to have cardio-vascular disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputation with nearly 60 amputations being carried out every week.

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterised by high blood glucose levels resulting from the body not producing insulin or not using it properly. Insulin is a hormone needed for glucose to enter the cells and be converted to energy.

There are two main types. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which is not caused by lifestyle factors. It occurs when the pancreas gland no longer produces the insulin needed. Type 1 diabetes is mostly diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It means a lifetime of insulin injections every day, regular blood glucose level tests, a disciplined eating plan and regular physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes represents 85% to 90% of all cases and symptoms go unnoticed as the disease develops gradually. Symptoms can include excessive thirst and urination, weakness and fatigue, blurred vision, skin infections, slow healing, tingling and numbness in the feet.

Contact Diabetes Australia
For information about diabetes or to become a member, call 1300 136 588.