Yvonne Appleby National Diabetes Week Interview

Preventable Hospital Admissions for Diabetes On The Rise

More Australians are being hospitalised each year for diabetes complications that could potentially be avoided by earlier diagnosis and better management.

The rate of potentially preventable hospitalisations due to diabetes complications has risen 4% between 2017-18 in Australia, while the rate of hospitalisations for other chronic conditions has decreased. This means Australians with diabetes aren't asking for, or getting, the help they need, leading to hospitalisations which could have been avoided with earlier treatment.

Sturt Eastwood, CEO, Diabetes NSW & ACT and Queensland, said this National Diabetes Week (July 14-20) he wants all Australians to know the symptoms of diabetes to curb unnecessary hospitalisations and avoid potentially life-changing complications.

"We're not identifying the symptoms in time, and this is putting people at risk of complications including blindness, amputation, kidney damage, heart attack and stroke," Mr Eastwood said.

A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showed that 12,928 potentially preventable hospitalisations in NSW and the ACT had led to more than 76,800 days in hospital beds due to diabetes complications throughout the year, while there 10,464 potentially preventable hospitalisations in Queensland leading to more than 49,000 days in hospital beds due to diabetes complications throughout the year.

"Once you're diagnosed, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes need to be managed daily to reduce the risk of complications, improve quality of life and increase life expectancy. Neither form of the condition can be ignored."

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition that attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It cannot be prevented. It can occur at any age but is most frequently diagnosed in children and young adults. Once the condition has developed, it requires urgent medical treatment and daily insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, which tends to develop progressively, can be delayed or prevented in nearly 60 per cent of cases through healthy eating and a more active lifestyle.

Mr Eastwood said diabetes is more widespread than most people know. "One in four Australian adults over the age of 25 lives with diabetes or pre-diabetes. If it's not you, it's someone you know," he said.

Symptoms for type 1 can be remembered by the 4Ts:
o Toilet – are you going to the toilet a lot?
o Thirsty – do you have an unquenchable thirst?
o Tired – are you more tired than usual?
o Thinner – have you recently lost a lot of weight?

Type 2 diabetes, known as the 'silent condition', is often harder to diagnose because the symptoms may remain mild for years, and people may associate changes in their health with getting older.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:
o Frequent urination
o Increased thirst
o Always feeling hungry

o Feeling very tired
o Blurry vision
o Slow healing of cuts and wounds
o Numbness or pain in hands or feet

Mr Eastwood said the increase in the rates of preventable hospitalisations because of diabetes complications could in part be due to people underestimating the effects of untreated type 2 diabetes.

"The sooner you're diagnosed, the sooner you can learn how to manage your condition and delay or prevent complications. The next time you're at the GP, ask them to check for diabetes. Make a diabetes test part of your annual GP checkup," Mr Eastwood said.

If you are over the age of 40, visit your GP and get checked for type 2 diabetes or go online and take the AUSDRISK test today.

Interview with Yvonne Appleby

Yvonne Appleby, 54, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, after being ill for many years. Yvonne had many of the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes – tiredness, headaches, sore throats, infections and weight gain. However, as Yvonne chose to ignore her symptoms the condition went undiagnosed for seven or more years.

Following her diagnosis Yvonne took up regular exercise, learned more about diet and lost 15kgs.

Question: Can you tell us about your diabetes diagnoses?

Yvonne Appleby: I was sick for seven years, before I was finally diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.


Question: What symptoms did you have before being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?

Yvonne Appleby: In 2004, I started to gain weight, which was unusual for me, as I was always a size 8 – 10, and never weighed more than 55kg.

This weight gain came out of nowhere, and over the course of four years, I had gained a total of 20kg.
In addition, I was constantly getting sick with ear infections, sore throats, colds, etc.
Between 2004 and 2011 (when I was diagnosed), I was often at the GP for antibiotics, but I wasn't getting better.

My GP often gave me blood tests, which showed my BGL was a bit above normal, but I was told that "your sugar is a bit high, but if you exercise and lose weight, it will go away". It was impossible for me to exercise, as I had no energy and always felt too sick. Additionally, the GP said that "it can't be diabetes, because you're not thirsty, and you're not peeing a lot".

My huge weight gain was also dismissed.
As time went on, I insisted on another blood test, which finally diagnosed me with Type 2 diabetes.


Question: How did your health change after the diagnoses?

Yvonne Appleby: My health started to improve three days after diagnosis, after taking my medication for three nights (Diabex XR). I immediately felt my energy returning.

I also credit Diabetes NSW & ACT, and Diabetes Australia, with educating me on how to manage my diabetes – information that I still use today.
I am also now a proud Ambassador for Diabetes NSW & ACT, and am grateful that I can help to raise diabetes awareness, due to my experiences.

As my energy and motivation returned, I took up dancing for the first time (at age 47), seven months after diagnosis, and lost 15kgs in a short time.
Dancing is still a major part of my life, and I credit that with keeping me healthy and fit, today.


Question: How does type 2 diabetes affect you on a daily basis, now?

Yvonne Appleby: The first thing I do when I wake up every day, is to check by BGL's. My BGL's depend on whether i need to eat straight away (if it's low), or to drink lots of water and go for a walk (if it's high). I check after 20 minutes, to see if it's in the normal range.
On a workday, I always check my levels before getting into the car. If it's below five, I have something to eat, and check again, to make sure it has raised a little. I won't drive until it's at a normal level, as you could suffer a hypo (low BGL) whilst driving.

I am very fortunate that I work as a receptionist in an amazing Clinic, where they promote health and fitness (Annandale Physiotherapy). My boss and colleagues have been very supportive of me, and always endeavour to keep me on the right track. I often attend our Strength and Balance Classes, to make sure I get some exercise and movement into my day.


Question: How do you monitor and treat your type 2 diabetes?

Yvonne Appleby: I also continue to take the same medication that I was given at diagnosis (Diabex XR).
Apart from the medication, for me, dancing has been the best treatment!


Question: What message do you hope to spread this National Diabetes Week?

Yvonne Appleby: It is SO important for everyone to be tested for Diabetes, especially since many people exhibit no symptoms at all.
Early diagnosis is imperative, as the longer someone goes without correct treatment, the higher the chances of complications, further down the track.


Interview by Brooke Hunter

Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash