Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic (long term) condition characterised by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.  It results from insufficient or a lack of insulin production. 

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas allowing glucose to go from the blood to the body cells where energy is made. This process is called glucose metabolism.

In diabetes, the pancreas either cannot make insulin or the insulin it does make is not sufficient and glucose metabolism cannot take place. Consequently glucose builds up in the blood, leading to high blood glucose levels, which in turn causes related health problems.

There are two main types of diabetes:

1. Type 1 (formerly known as insulin dependent) diabetes—most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults and represents approximately 10 per cent of all people diagnosed in Australia. People with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin and require insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels.
   
2. Type 2 (formerly known as non-insulin dependent) diabetes—typically occurs in adults over 40 years of age but is increasingly affecting all ages, including children. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85-90 per cent of all cases in Australia. People with type 2 do not produce sufficient insulin. Type 2 diabetes often responds to a healthy eating plan, appropriate exercise and weight reduction, but sometimes tablets or insulin injections may be required.

Symptoms and characteristics

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms are often sudden and can be life threatening without appropriate treatment.

In type 2 diabetes, many people have no symptoms at all, while other signs can go unnoticed. By the time symptoms are noticed, associated health problems or complications may already be present.

Common symptoms include:

• being more thirsty than usual
• passing more urine
• feeling tired and lethargic
• always feeling hungry
• having cuts that heal slowly
• itching and skin infections
• blurred vision
• unexplained weight loss (type 1)
• gradually putting on weight (type 2)
• mood swings
• headaches
• feeling dizzy
• leg cramps.

Associated health problems or complications include:

• damage to both large and small blood vessels leading to heart attack or stroke and causing problems in the eyes, kidneys, feet and nerves
• impacts on other parts of the body such as the digestive system, skin and immune system
• being more prone to thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid levels).

For more information on some of these symptoms and characteristics, follow these links:

• hypothyroidism
• stroke 

Statistics

Diabetes affects an estimated 1.5 million people in Australia of all ages, socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds and both sexes (Diabetes Australia 2007).      

Workplace adjustments and solutions

In the workplace there are various factors that would greatly assist those people with diabetes to better manage their symptoms. These include:

• flexibility in terms of leave and breaks for small meals or insulin injections
• reduced hours as the condition progresses
• a non-physically demanding role
• a role that does not require visual acuity.

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• ability to see (or see clearly)
• energy to attend work or complete tasks
• maintaining work pace without tiring
• managing medication at work
• navigating the workplace

References

Diabetes Australia, 2007, Information sheets, Diabetes Australia, Canberra, viewed 15 April 2007, <http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/education_info/sheets.html>.

MDA Internet 2005, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 15 April 2007, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.