Diabetes: Sweet agony

Sara Porter couldn't seem to quench her thirst.
The 45-year-old was drinking litres of water and juice a day to counteract her "dry horrors".
"It didn't seem to do a thing other than make me constantly go to the golden throne," she says.
"I also noticed I was getting more and more tired over the past few months."
She told her GP what she was experiencing in passing during an appointment.
"He took a look at my weight, age and family history and suggested I do a urine and blood test 'just in case'," Sara says.
"At the time I didn't really know what he was meaning, I thought I might have an infection and it'd be fixed with a few antibiotics."
Sara's test results showed she had type 2 diabetes. A condition shared with 270,000 people in New Zealand. Diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is produced by the body, causing high levels of glucose in the blood.
"I was in shock, but looking back I don't know why," she says. "I was a prime candidate - I'm Polynesian, overweight, rarely exercised and like my food."
This week is Diabetes Awareness Week, which aims to educate Kiwis about the causes and effects of the disease.
A recent Ministry of Health report showed that 10 per cent of the adult population would have type 2 diabetes by 2028 and almost half a million people by 2036.
Diabetes Rotorua president Karen Reed said type 2 diabetes could be prevented if people made lifestyle changes by eating healthily and doing more exercise. "Maori and Pacific Islanders are genetically susceptible to the disease, which can be held off through a healthy lifestyle."
Pricewaterhouse Coopers economist Suzanne Snively says that 10 years ago the Government spent 3-4 per cent of the health budget on diabetes treatment.
That would rise to 15 per cent by 2021 if the trends continued.
"The cost on the health services is huge because there are so many complications that come with diabetes," Karen says. "Just look at the dialysis unit - half the people there have kidney failure because of diabetes, it also leads to loss of sight.
"They are costing the country a huge amount, not just the cost of medicine but the cost that it takes to treat the complications."
She says there is also a growing number of people who are classified as pre-diabetic - those destined to have the disease unless changes are made.
"People are getting diabetes earlier in their life, too. Traditionally, it was older people aged in their 70s and 80s, who didn't suffer too many complications because they didn't have long to live," she says.
Diabetes New Zealand president Chris Baty said the nation was eating themselves into an early grave.
"The impact of diabetes is not just on our health and well-being. It threatens to affect our economy and workforce due to the long-term effects in some people which can include amputation, death, blindness, heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease, not to mention how much it is costing taxpayers in healthcare costs.
"Rather than relying on the health system to fix it we need to collectively work together to prevent it. That's what this year's Diabetes Awareness Week is about, encouraging people to make small progressive steps in the fight against diabetes."
After recovering from the initial shock of having the disease, Sara says it's given her a good "kick up the butt" to reclaim her life back.
"I've lost more than 25kg since I was diagnosed three years ago. Like other diabetics, my weight was my downfall and I'm still working on trimming some of my fat off.
"As well as taking insulin, I have to be careful about what I eat. My first grandchild is due next month so it's just another incentive to take control of my life and be healthy," she says.
DIABETES FACTS

About 210,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with diabetes (many do not know they have it), and it is increasing by 8-9 per cent a year in prevalence. The highest growth is in Auckland.
Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease. New Zealand has the second highest figures for obesity and life lost to type 2 diabetes in the world.
Rates of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are rapidly increasing, particularly in children.
Pregnant women often suffer from gestational diabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes in the child.

Eating
Do ...
Make a plan. It's the best way to avoid that "grab-a-snack" thing that happens when you are hungry.
Fruit and veges are great. Remember five-plus a day.
Bread and cereals are great to fill you up, but remember wholegrain is best - and avoid sugary cereals
Don't ...
Fruit juice can have almost as much sugar as fizzy soft drinks. So water is best if you are thirsty.
Chocolates, lollies and other treats aren't great. Keep them really occasional.
Know your food labels and know what they mean. Even when labels say "lite" it's worth checking the back to make sure they're less than 10 per cent fat.
Exercise
Do ...
Go for a walk. It doesn't need to be far. Even once around the block will get things pumping.
Make friends with the stairs. Whenever there's an option stairs are a good way to go.
Set easy goals, make a plan and stick to it. It's easier to do things if you've written them down.
Join a club. It doesn't need to be rugby league. Find a walking club, dancing or swimming, even amateur theatre will keep you active.
Aim for 30 minutes exercise a day, perhaps make it a family occasion (60 minutes for the kids).
But it doesn't have to be all at once. Ten minutes in the morning, 10 at lunchtime and a quick walk in the evening. Done.
Diabetes Awareness Week is from November 16-22.
For free personal eating and exercise tips and diabetes risk assessment, please go to www.staysweetas.co.nz http://www.staysweetas.co.nz/ or to make a direct $20 donation to Diabetes NZ call 0900 86369.