Every day 50 New Zealanders are diagnosed with diabetes.
ALL ABOUT DIABETES
WHAT IS IT ?
Insulin is a chemical produced by the pancreas that helps our body process sugars. This ensures that there is not too much glucose (sugar) in our bloodstream. Diabetes is a condition where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or our cells become resistant to insulin, and as a result we have high levels of glucose in the blood.
There are two types of Diabetes that directly affect men:
Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood and occurs when your body stops producing insulin altogether. People with Type 1 diabetes need to have regular insulin injections to live.
Type 2 Diabetes is when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or your cells become resistant. Type 2 diabetes is usually the result of poor diet choices, and is strongly linked with obesity.
90% of all cases of diabetes are Type 2.
50% of people with diabetes die from heart disease.