Written by Medibank
March 2025
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition where there’s too much glucose in the blood. The most common is type 2 diabetes, followed by type 1 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. An estimated 1.3 million Australians live with diabetes.
People with diabetes cannot convert glucose into energy. The glucose comes from foods that contain carbohydrates like pasta, bread, fruit and sugar. The glucose stays in the bloodstream and causes a range of symptoms like drowsiness, dizziness and headaches. If left untreated, it may lead to serious health complications like heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, or blindness.
Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes may cause the following symptoms:
- excessive thirst
- passing more urine
- tiredness
- persistent hunger
- cuts that heal slowly
- skin infections and itching
- blurred vision
- unexplained weight loss
- mood swings
- headaches
- dizziness
- leg cramps.
See a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis. A doctor will be able to request a blood test and make a diagnosis based on the results.
Causes and management of diabetes
The most common forms of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Each condition has different causes and management strategies.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition, which is when the body’s immune system attacks itself. An auto-immune condition can’t be prevented but it may be managed with blood glucose monitoring, insulin injections, and a healthy lifestyle.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas can’t produce insulin, the hormone the body uses to turn glucose into energy. Instead, the body burns its own fat to get the energy it needs, which can lead to a build-up of chemicals in the blood that can do serious damage to the body. Type 1 diabetes is common in people under 30, and the symptoms may appear suddenly.
Daily insulin injections are required to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. People with the condition must monitor their blood glucose levels throughout the day and regularly inject insulin or use an insulin pump
A healthy lifestyle plays an important role in the management of type 1 diabetes. Healthy eating and regular exercise are the best ways to reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition because it affects 85-90% of all people with diabetes. It mainly affects adults over the age of 45, but it has begun to occur in younger age groups.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas can’t make enough insulin and there’s a degree of insulin resistance in the body. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people with a family history of the condition, people who are overweight or obese, and people who are less active and have an unhealthy diet.
It’s possible to manage type 2 diabetes with healthy eating and regular exercise. Research shows that with a combination of healthy eating and weight loss in the years after a diagnosis, type 2 diabetes remission may be possible.
People with type 2 diabetes may need medication and some may also need insulin. It’s important to monitor diabetes, regularly see a doctor, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and take medication or insulin as soon as they are required. This helps to reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
Did you know Medibank has a program to support eligible members* living with type 2 diabetes? Find out more.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the demands of pregnancy, leading to high blood glucose (sugar) levels.
Unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes is often temporary and usually resolves after childbirth. However, the condition requires careful monitoring and management to reduce the risk of health complications for the mother and the baby.
Gestational diabetes occurs in 1 in 6 pregnancies. Symptoms often first appear between the 24th to 28th weeks of pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is more common in women over 40, people who are above a healthy weight range, or those with a family history of type 2 diabetes. It is also more likely to occur if you are of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Vietnamese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian or Melanesian background.
If left untreated, gestational diabetes may cause serious health complications for the mother and the baby. A management plan should be devised in collaboration with doctors and specialists. The plan may include monitoring blood glucose levels at home, healthy eating and regular exercise. Some women may require medication or insulin.
Further information and sources
Complimentary health checks now available
We're always looking for ways to help our members, that's why we are trialling complimentary health checks over the phone with Registered Nurses^ for members with Hospital cover.+
Read more about type 2 diabetes
Looking for something else?
Visit our type 2 diabetes hub for more information.
Things you need to know
* Available to suitable Medibank members aged 18-80 with resident hospital cover that includes diabetes management who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, are above a healthy weight (BMI≥27) and can access a telephone and internet.
^ This health check service is being delivered by Amplar Health. Amplar Health is a business of Medibank Health Solutions Pty Limited (ABN 99 078 934 791), a member of the Medibank group of companies.
+ Members must be +18 years and have Hospital cover. Members with Overseas Visitor Health Cover, Working Visa Health Cover and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) are not eligible.
While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice, and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).