Diabetes
What is it?
A chronic condition marked by high levels of glucose in the blood.
What causes Diabetes?
Diabetes is either caused by the inability of the body to produce insulin, which is a hormone that is responsible for controlling blood glucose levels (e.g Type1 diabetes) OR by the body not being able to use insulin effectively (Type 2 diabetes) OR both.
Type 1 diabetes is a life -long autoimmune disease that starts in childhood or early adolescence. The exact cause is unknown. These people require daily insulin replacement to survive.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes (often having a later onset in life) which is where they can produce insulin but either don’t produce enough and/or they are unable to use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes involves a genetic component but is largely preventable and is often associated with lifestyle factors (poor diet, being overweight, smoking, physical inactivity).
Gestational diabetes is characterised by glucose intolerance and is first noticed during pregnancy. It can resolve after baby is born but can recur later and increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It can also be managed by changes to diet and exercise.
How can Enhance Motion help?
Both Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes are managed with diet and exercise. Our allied health therapists are professionals when it comes to creating exercise plans to increase your levels of physical activity. Poor sensation in your feet is a very common side effect when it comes to diabetes and so balance exercises are another important type of exercise that gets factored In when dealing with those with diabetes.
Information from AIHW Australian Institute of Health and Welfare