The Lowdown On Diabetes

Find out everything you need to know about a condition that affects thousands of Kiwis

As many as 250,000 New Zealanders may have diabetes and some of them might not even realise they have it.

While most of us have some understanding of the condition, it’s important to be totally across it so we can do as much as we can to prevent it, or know how to manage it if a loved one is diagnosed.

Dietitian and nutritionist Susie Burrell helps to explain the basics.

What is diabetes?

The condition occurs when the body can’t maintain healthy levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a form of sugar that acts as an energy source for the body.

Converting glucose into this energy is the job of a hormone called insulin. People with diabetes are lacking sufficient amounts of insulin for this conversion, which means the glucose stays in the bloodstream, increasing their blood glucose levels. This is referred to as glycaemia.

What are the different types?