Older Aussies can prevent diabetes

Older Australians can improve their health by addressing two important factors, according to Diabetes Australia chief executive, Lewis Kaplan.

Mr Kaplan tells DPS News nutrition and exercise are major indicators in helping prevent pre-diabetes, after a new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report released last week shows diabetes has significantly increased among Australians over the past 20 years.

“If people can address these things such as nutrition and exercise, then they can stop the process, turn it around and stop being at risk,” he says.

The report reveals the prevalence of diabetes in Australians increased from 1.5% to 4.1% over 20 years. However, diabetes-related deaths dropped by 18% over a 10-year period between 1997 and 2007.

“This may be the result of better diabetes management,” AIHW spokesperson, Lisa McGlynn, says, adding there is still, nevertheless, “cause for concern”.

While Mr Kaplan maintains you do not need to be a “gym junkie”, he adds an adequate amount of exercise a day will help your body manage its uptake of the  insulin your body produces.

“You don’t need to exercise like Tony Abbot, but daily exercise is important regardless of age,” he says, adding half an hour of moderate walking exercise is all that is required to see results.

Confessing the process is “gradual”, Mr Kaplan says improved health will “not happen overnight”, and becoming overweight or obese can continue as a person grows older.

“A person won’t be the same weight when they were 20 years old, but not maintaining your health in old age will mean you may suffer risk of major complications.

“Not treating diabetes can lead to lower limb amputation, blindness and reduced quality of life – and nobody wants to be a burden to their families. You can manage it, but you can’t get rid of it.”