You think spiders are ‘scary’? Think type 2 diabetes
Diabetes Australia’s latest campaign aims to compare Australians’ fears of sharks, spiders and clowns with the threat of type 2 diabetes.
The new You think this is scary? campaign uses strong images to make Australians reassess what they consider a personal threat.
A new Newspoll survey shows nearly 80% of Australians don’t think they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, despite evidence that more than two million Australians already have pre-diabetes and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85% to 90% of all people with diabetes. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age.
The new You think this is scary? campaign uses strong images to make Australians reassess what they consider a personal threat.
Professor Greg Johnson, Diabetes Australia chief executive, says the threat of developing type 2 diabetes is “very real”.
“If people do the ‘risk test’ and find that they are at highrisk, we can do something about it. We can offer type 2 diabetes prevention programs that may prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in up to 60% of cases through sustained lifestyle medication – losing weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising more,” Professor Johnson said.
While the number of people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes is “scary”, the financial burden on the health system is equally frightening.
According to Professor Philip Clarke, health economist at the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Melbourne, the burden of diabetes isn’t just a “personal one” – the economic effects are “huge”.
“The health care costs of a person diagnosed with diabetes is between $10,000 to $15,000 per year, which is considerably higher than those of the average Australia. By preventing and treating type 2 diabetes now, many more Australians will live to see their grandkids,” Professor Clarke says.
Visit Diabetes Australia's campaign website.
