Diabetic Living Australia

our experts

Dr Kate Marsh Dietitian & diabetes educator Kate, who has type 1, is in private practice in Sydney; drkatemarsh.com.au Dr Sultan Linjawi Endocrinologist A diabetes specialist, Sultan has a clinic in Queensland; drsultanlinjawi.com Dr Janine Clarke Psychologist Janine is in private practice at Mend Psychology and The Sydney ACT Centre; mendpsychology.com.au Elissa Renouf Type 1 parent Elissa is the owner of Diabete-ezy and a mum of four kids with type 1; diabete-ezy.com Rachel Freeman Diabetes educator Rachel is the mum of a child with type 1, and also works at the Australian Diabetes Educators Association; adea.com.au. Danielle Veldhoen Podiatrist Danielle works at Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia. Drew Harrisberg Exercise physiologist & diabetes educator Drew, who has type 1, offers online coaching/consultations and specialises in designing safe and effective exercise programs; drewsdailydose.com Dr Ramy Bishay Endocrinologist & bariatric physician Ramy is a weight loss, diabetes and obesity specialist and director of Blacktown Hospital’s…

you’ve got this!

As I write this, there’s a light at the end of the lockdown tunnel for NSW and Victoria after what’s been a very tough few months. I’m looking forward to being able to see friends and family again as the weather warms up and summer arrives. Keeping our spirits up, our exercise on track and a healthy eating plan in place has been tough and kudos to you if you’ve managed to do that. If not, it’s never too late to start over. A great place to begin is with our pantry makeover feature (page 82) by dietitian Dr Kate Marsh - now’s a great time to take a good hard look at what’s on your shelves and make a few changes to ensure you’ve always got a healthy snack or…

just diagnosed

DIABETES 101 Getting your head around “diabetes lingo”? Read on… • When should I test my blood glucose levels (BGLs)? This varies depending on the type of diabetes and your medication, but possible times include before meals, two hours after eating, before bed, before you exercise and if you’re feeling unwell. • What should my BGLs be? As a guide, if you have type 1 diabetes, a healthy target to aim for is 4-6mmol/L before you eat, and 4-8mmol/L two hours after starting a meal. If you have type 2 diabetes, aim for 6-8mmol/L before meals, and 6-10mmol/L two hours after starting a meal. Ask your doctor or Credentialled Diabetes Educator for more guidance. • What’s mmol/L? It stands for millimoles per litre of blood, and is how BGLs are measured. • What’s HbA1c? It’s…

type 1 & type 2…

TYPE 1 is an auto-immune condition caused by a combination of genetics and unknown factors. It accounts for 10 per cent of all diabetes, and occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone that’s vital for converting glucose into energy. People living with type 1 diabetes need to use insulin to reduce the level of glucose circulating in their blood. TYPE 2 is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. It accounts for 85-90 per cent of all diabetes, and is a progressive condition where the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin, or where the pancreas slowly loses its ability to produce enough of the hormone – both of which leave too much glucose in the blood.…

food myths for pwd

It's my sweet tooth! It’s not that simple. While type 1 is triggered by genetics and unknown factors, type 2 is caused by a mix of genetics and lifestyle factors. One of those is being overweight, but it’s not just sugar that causes that. Plus, if you are overweight, that’s only a risk factor, not a direct cause of type 2. No more chocolate! False. As long as chocolate, or other foods containing added or natural sugars, are eaten as part of a healthy meal plan or combined with exercise, people with diabetes can definitely still enjoy them in moderation. Talk to your GP or dietitian for more info. Ugh. A ‘special diet’ Not really. These days ‘healthy eating’ for people who have diabetes is no different to the ‘healthy eating’ guidelines recommended for the…

take this to heart

1 You’re not alone About 280 Aussies develop diabetes every day – one person every five minutes. And for every four people diagnosed, someone else is living with diabetes but doesn’t know. The longer diabetes goes undiagnosed, the more it can impact your overall health. 2 It's your move Continuing or starting regular physical activity will help lower your short- and long-term BGLs and can also help certain diabetes medications work more effectively. Plus, along with a healthy diet, losing weight – as little as five per cent of your body weight – can also have a positive impact. 3 We’re here Wondering where to start? Combined with advice from your healthcare team, you’ve made a great first step. In this (and every!) issue of Diabetic Living, you’ll find practical, helpful advice, expert responses to…