There are more than 4400 amputations every year in Australia as a result of diabetes.

This is the second-highest rate in the developed world. Geez, only second highest?

But don’t worry. At the rate we’re going, we’ll win the gold medal before you notice your foot has gone.

Too much? You bet.

Research from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition has found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has tripled over the past 30 years in Australia.

This shouldn’t be a surprise

Obesity is the main driver of type 2 diabetes and, as you may have heard, an obesity epidemic has gained speed over the past 30 or 40 years.

The Deakin research, led by Associate Professor Shariful Islam, found that in 1990, there were 379,532 Australians living with type 2 diabetes.

In 2019, there were 1,307,261 people with the illness that is the leading cause of blindness among working-age Australians.

Breaking it down

The study found that, on the up side, people were less likely to die from type 2 diabetes than they were 30 years ago.

Well … unless you’re aged 70 and above. In that age frame, deaths are up.

But the rate of medical complications – including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and nerve damage – are increasing. Particularly among men.

“Overall, men had higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, most notably since 2010 when the prevalence among men tripled compared to women,” Dr Islam said.

“A possible explanation for the increasing rate among men is the strong link between type 2 diabetes and obesity, particularly abdominal obesity which is more likely to occur in men than women, especially pre-menopausal women.

“Risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles may also influence the higher rates of type 2 diabetes in men.”

More people of all ages are prone

As we age, broadly speaking, we tend to become more sedentary and indulgent with comfort eating.

This is probably the worse time in our lives to slacken off physical activity, instead of sticking to a healthier diet.

One of the consequences is the older we get, the more likely we are to develop type 2 diabetes. And the less likely we are to pull the finger out and take better care of ourselves.

The new-found increase in diabetes prevalence is occurring from young adulthood onwards. Specifically, it found that type 2 diabetes:

• Increased in people aged between 25 and 29 years
• Increased sharply among people aged 40 years and over
• Was highest among people aged 80 years and above.

It’s a disaster. Think about it. We’re wringing our hands about our ageing – and fattening – population.

Reality demands that more of us make an effort to stay fit, eat better and do whatever is necessary to live an independent life where you’re not stumping around on one foot and waiting for your bottom to be wiped.

But if I have diabetes, it’s all too late

When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2018, I was somewhat depressed. And embarrassed.

Here I was, writing all these health and wellbeing stories while conducting a polyamorous relationship with a cream bun, Vegemite toast and any little piece of bacon with a winning smile.

John Elder, before and after: Diabetes can be put into remission.

Suddenly I didn’t know what to eat.

That didn’t matter because I’d lost my appetite, understanding that type 2 diabetes was a progressive condition, one that would likely kill me earlier than I’d anticipated.

Read about my first two weeks of Mr Fat Bastard getting his comeuppance here.

Boo hoo

That same week, one of my daughters asked me to take her out to dinner. She was a theatre nurse at the time.

She’d just cut the foot off a woman who wasn’t emotionally attached to her toes because she hadn’t seen them for some years. They’d grown apart.

As my daughter was helping prepare the patient for life at home, the woman said she was looking forward to going to Hungry Jack’s and eating two Whoppers etc.

Daughter said: “Well I hope you enjoy them, because you’ll be back here soon and we can cut your other foot off.”

I can understand people sinking into denial and making the most of it, perhaps even training for their heart to give out. But it’s pretty pathetic.

How to turn things around

It’s possible to put type 2 diabetes into remission.

The short answer: Change your diet and lose weight. The sooner the better. People are more likely to achieve remission if they lose about
10 to 15 per cent of their body weight.

You’ll likely need support and guidance.

Where before your diagnosis you might have resented the idea of changing your diet, having diabetes can give you a sense of mission. A little bit of healthy desperation you might say.

Achieving remission means maintaining a healthy blood sugar level without medication. It doesn’t mean you’re cured.

And while it’s not possible for everybody, making that extra effort might keep you going blind down the track or dying from a stroke.

Your health and wellbeing will noticeably improve.

Finally, type 2 diabetes doesn’t just mug you in the middle of the street in the night time.

It crawls up on you in the form of prediabetes. This can be nipped in the bud and progression to full-blown diabetes avoided.

For more on prediabetes, see here.

And see here for what Diabetes Australia has to say about remission.

And here is what I learnt in my first year of living with the disease.

Come on Australia. Make an effort.