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Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
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      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
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Macular Disease Foundation Australia
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Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
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      • Italian
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    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • Check My Macula
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
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        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Panel
      • Support Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Understanding Research
        • Social Impact
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      • Research studies
    • Resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
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Macular Disease

  • Macular Degeneration
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    • About Macular Degeneration
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    • What Happens?
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        • Nutrient Content of Foods
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      • Early and Intermediate Macular Degeneration
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  • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • About Diabetic Retinopathy
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    • About Diabetes
      • Diabetes and the Eye
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      • Diabetes Care Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
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      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
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      • Macular Telangiectasia
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      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease

    About Diabetes

    Diabetes is a complex, serious, chronic (long-lasting) condition. It can have substantial effects on many parts of the body including the eyes, nerves, brain, kidneys, heart and limbs. These effects are largely the result of damage to blood vessels.

    Diabetes is a very serious condition. A critical aspect of diabetes is that, although it cannot be cured, the complications and related health problems can be significantly reduced or prevented in the vast majority of people. Managing the condition requires support from a number of different health professionals

    Diabetes requires daily self-management and personal responsibility including the optimal management of blood glucose levels, blood lipid levels, careful attention to diet, weight management, and regular physical activity.

    Three main types of diabetes:

    Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system is activated to destroy the cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin. It is not known what causes this autoimmune reaction. Type 1 diabetes is not linked to modifiable lifestyle factors and cannot be prevented. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age though onset is commonly in children, adolescents and young adults. All people with type 1 diabetes need insulin therapy to survive.

    Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin and/or gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors (overweight/obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, stress). Type 2 diabetes also runs in families. It commonly develops in adults, although it is becoming more common among children and young adults.

    Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and affects 5-10% of pregnancies in Australia. This condition normally disappears after the baby is born, however both the mother and the baby have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

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