Our Health - how engaged can we be with Type 2 diabetes?

My guest today was Rachel Worsely from 6minutes.com.au a website that delivers news for doctors such as developments in medicine, politics, and clinical practice. We talk...

• Alcohol awareness and Dry July
• Type 2 Diabetes
• International Day of Friendship
• Religious intolerance

We wonder and question - it is never quite as straightforward as a bullet list of topics.

Dry July - what next?

What is it with alcohol and it being such a crucial part of socialising in some spaces?

As the end of July approaches and Dry July initiative comes to an end we have a brief chat about what the hooks are that make it hard to re-assess the relationship we have with alcohol. Rachel points out that we need to look at both the relationship in our daily life and the cultural connotations that surround alcohol.

Rachel and I talk about the current pressure to drink but I also did an interview back in Feb which delved into responsible alcohol use. Part of that interview was with Chris Raine the CEO of Hello Sunday Morning will make it a standalone download but for now here is the link to the whole episode. Link here

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Sober people are not party-poopers 
they have just found a way to enjoy a social life without alcohol.

Type 2 Diabetes - a worrying rising statistic

Facts about diabetes

• 280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes
• It is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia 
• More than 100,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year 
• For every person diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a family member or carer who also ‘lives with diabetes’ every day in a support role. This means that an estimated 2.4 million Australians are affected by diabetes every day
• In 2013, diabetes caused 5.1 million deaths globally.

Rachel and I took a look at preventable elements of Type 2 diabetes as diet and lifestyle factors play an enormous part in this disease developing in the body.

To understand the clear distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes check out the Diabetes Australia Website. 

To check out your risk - Diabetes Australia have a diabetes risk calculator check it out here

One small addition to the lists you will find on all medical websites about risk factors - don't underestimate the impact of stress on our bodies. There is no current scientific research to back this up yet but considering it is an autoimmune disease and our immune system is lowered when we are stressed over long periods of time it must be considered. Equally, as Rachel points out, stress leads us to have unhealthy behaviours - little to no exercise, less healthy diet and less sleep all leads to indicators predisposing us to preventable lifestyle illnesses.

Consistency and routine - when you start a healthier routine, make a point of making it about a lifestyle as opposed to a diet.

United Nation's International Day of Friendship

"On this International Day of Friendship, let us cultivate warm ties that strengthen our common humanity and promote the well-being of the human family. "
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

What might a day truly celebrating friendship mean? I say truly because I see friendship asBan Ki-moon does - about humanity, not one country, race, religion or different beliefs and ideals tolerating one-another. After all, how far has tolerance got us so far...one step away from intolerance and perhaps the reason why we have the problems we do in Europe and beyond.

Rachel and I discussed the 4 Corners episode A Nation Divided. This episode had a profound effect on both of us. The journalist Shasta Aziz presented an episode from the BBC on the current political climate in France, from far right agitators who want to deport all foreigners to Muslim 'comics' who specialise in provoking outrage, she explores the difficult questions facing democratic nations around the world. 

There was one point in the episode where a man was unable to decide which he found more offensive - the fact that there are kebab shops in his streets or a woman wearing a hijab. I presume he felt the same way about the crucifix around someone's neck but who knows. It was quite scary to see the belief so firmly held and the fear tactics that were being used to encourage others to join their ranks.

Further resources

Diabetes Australia
Four Corners - A Nation Divided
United Nations - International Day of Friendship
With thanks to Triple H Fm for use of their airwaves for the live broadcast of this show and to Glorious Music for the use of their music in my show and podcast