Prevention

Type 2 diabetes

Every year, more than 17,000 Victorians are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, making it the fastest growing condition not only in Australia, but globally. More than 300 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes.

In addition, there are another 13,000 Victorian women with gestational diabetes who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes after their pregnancy.

In 2020–21, an estimated $3.4 billion of expenditure in the Australian health system was attributed to diabetes management and care.

Prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support for self-management, all reduce complications, hospitalisations and the costs of diabetes.

Prevention

Currently there is no way to prevent or cure type 1 diabetes.

Over 60% of type 2 diabetes diagnoses can be prevented or delayed by changing what we call ‘modifiable risk factors’, these are changes you can actively make to your lifestyle to help reduce your risk.

The development of type 2 diabetes is linked to four types of risk factors. These are:

• Genetic risk factors—the influence of a person’s genes.
• Environmental risk factors—such as exposure to toxins, climate and access to healthcare.
• Lifestyle risk factors—behaviours influencing diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and stress management.
• Biomedical risk factors—these are bodily states, such as blood pressure and blood glucose levels, that have an impact on a person’s risk of disease. They can be influenced by all of the above.

You can read more about risk factors on the Life! website.

Sometimes it is possible to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by:

• Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight—excess body fat increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 
• Eating a healthy diet.
• Doing regular physical activity.

Other ways to reduce type 2 diabetes risk are quitting smoking, drinking no alcohol (or moderate amounts), managing stress and making sure that you get proper sleep.

There are many factors that affect a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but not all can be modified. For example, genetics, age, ethnic background and family history cannot be modified. 

Who is at risk of type 2 diabetes?

Risk factors that can’t be modified:  

• Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Having pre-diabetes
• Being above the healthy weight range
• Having an inactive lifestyle
• Being over the age of 50
• Being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• Being from a Melanesian, Polynesian, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern or Indian background. 

The Life! program is committed to providing accessible, and flexible support for all Victorians. That’s why we deliver the program in 4 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse groups, in-language Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic, and Low Literacy English. 

What we do at diabetes Victoria to help reduce risk?

At Diabetes Victoria, we strive to help Victorians reduce their risk of developing diabetes and live a more healthy life.

We are proud of our role in leading one of the world’s largest type 2 diabetes prevention programs.

Since 2007, Diabetes Victoria has been funded by the Victorian Government to deliver the Life! program, a free healthy lifestyle program to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Our number 1 goal in the Diabetes Victoria Strategy 2025 – 2030 is ‘Fewer people will develop diabetes.’

All Victorians deserve to be in good health for as long as possible. Prevention needs to be a priority for all types of diabetes, even after a cure is found. Diabetes poses a significant risk to physical and mental health. It places a burden on people, their families, communities, and the healthcare system.

We will continue to build on this strong foundation and work with partners to help reduce every Victorian’s risk of type 2 diabetes.

All Victorians deserve access to healthcare, support and skills to manage their health. A focus on preventative healthcare services reduces costs for people and the government.

Let’s work together to build a healthier future for all.