Type 2 diabetes
Our bodies need a hormone called insulin to turn sugar from our food into energy. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not produce insulin.
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to insulin and it does not make enough insulin to keep up. This means your body has difficulty absorbing the sugars from food.
Over time, this can lead to increases in fatty deposits or clots on the inside of blood vessel walls. If untreated or undiagnosed, these clots can narrow or block the blood vessels in the brain, cutting off blood supply and causing a stroke.
People with diabetes are also more likely to have high blood pressure, which can also increase your risk of stroke.
The risk of getting type 2 diabetes is higher for people who are:
- Older (over 55 years of age), as the risk increases with age.
- Over 45 years of age and have high blood pressure.
- Over 45 years of age and overweight.
- From a family with a history of diabetes.
Control your risk
If you have diabetes it is important to keep your blood sugars within a recommended range.
If you have type 1 diabetes, it is usually recommended you check your blood sugar level four times per day, however, you may need to test more often. You will need to use insulin to keep your blood sugars in the recommended range. Insulin is usually taken by an injection.
If you have type 2 diabetes you should talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about management of your blood sugar level. You can usually use a healthy diet and regular exercise to keep your blood sugars in the recommended range.
Talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about the things you should do.
More information
Diabetes Australia, www.diabetesaustralia.com.au