http://au.news.yahoo.com//080228/2/15zot.html
Friday February 29, 01:01 AM
Address diabetes linked weight: expert
Almost three quarters of type two diabetes sufferers wrongly believe the community blames them for their disease, new research shows.
While almost 60 per cent of Australians are overweight or obese, the figure rises to nearly nine out of 10 among people with type two diabetes.
Nine-hundred-and-fifty-six people participated in the online survey for drug and research company, Eli Lilly Australia, including 254 with type two diabetes.
Of the diabetes sufferers, almost two thirds blamed being overweight as the main cause of their disease.
More than half cited a lack of exercise, while 47 per cent said family history was the cause.
International Diabetes Institute director Paul Zimmet said obesity in diabetes sufferers was a health issue needing urgent attention.
"In type two diabetes, whether a person is overweight or obese, every kilo counts," he said.
"Achieving control of the disease and minimising other health issues, such as heart and kidney disease, becomes harder with increasing body weight.
"It is critical we make this a higher priority in our management of the disease."
Seventy per cent of type two diabetes sufferers said the community believed their disease was the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
But just 12 per cent of the general public surveyed said type two diabetes sufferers only had their lifestyles to blame for the disease.
More than one million Australians have type two diabetes.