TUH warn of symptoms during National Diabetes Week

It’s National Diabetes Week and Townsville University Hospital (TUH) has been helping to raise awareness about diabetes including recognising the warning signs in children. 

TUH’s Professor Usman Malabu leads the Translational Research in Endocrinology and Diabetes (TREAD) team, a collaboration with James Cook University, which is looking to address the rising rates of diabetes in the region.

“More than 1.3 million Australians have diabetes, with north Queensland having some of the highest rates of amputations due to diabetes in the country,” he said.

“Within the next seven years it’s predicted there could be up to 160 new cases of diabetes diagnosed in Queensland each day, or one person every nine minutes.

“With our exposure to a greater variety of unhealthy foods and our sedentary lifestyle, diabetes remains a major health issue for north Queenslanders.”

Paediatric endocrinologist Dr Jason Yates said if children were complaining of constant thirst, increased urination (particular at night), losing weight or more tired, then they need an urgent same day appointment with a GP for a finger prick blood glucose.

“Children with undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes can become severely unwell with a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),” he said.

“This is when the body becomes acidotic because no insulin is being produced to break sugar down for energy.

“DKA can be fatal, so my strong advice this National Diabetes Week is to recognise the symptoms in children and act straight away.”

Professor Malabu said complications from diabetes included ulcers, eye disease leading to blindness, kidney failure, and heart attacks.

“Our team is continuing to study, treat and monitor diabetes, and its complications, including how the use of new technologies can help with the detection and treatment for the disease.”

TUH dietitian Tayla Storr said one of the most effective ways to manage diabetes or reduce the risk of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes was through a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

“Everyone should be trying to consistently incorporate a variety of foods into their diet, regular movement, and drinking plenty of water each day.

“We are also encouraging people to become familiar with the signs of diabetes and to seek out more information through sources like the Townsville HHS website or Diabetes Australia,” Ms Storr said.

The theme for this year’s National Diabetes Week is ‘unite in the fight for tech’ sending a message that regardless of where people with diabetes are living, they should be able to access life-saving technology they need to live well.