Dave was only 39 years old when he was driving home from work and lost the colour in his vision. He went straight to the doctor, got a blood test and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
With high blood pressure and soaring blood glucose levels, he was given three months to live unless he changed his lifestyle. Dave had been living with undiagnosed, silent type 2 diabetes.
Dave knew he had to make changes.
“After my diagnosis, I made time to adapt my diet,” he said.
“My doctor warned me that my lifestyle was going to kill me. I knew he was right – for years I’d put off exercising. It was always easy to find an excuse to avoid activity, even just playing with my kids.
“With his warning ringing in my ears, I started walking, going at my own rate, every day. It became a habit. As I got fitter, I lifted my distance and intensity and then took up cycling.
“Being active was the easiest decision I’ve made. Improving my future was my motivation.”
These days he’s living well with type 2 diabetes.
“Since making these changes, I feel awesome. I wish I’d made all the changes sooner, including being a better husband and father.”
There are currently up to two million Australians living with or at very high risk of type 2 diabetes, including an estimated 500,000 people living with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. It’s time to unite and fight to make sure that our health system regularly checks everyone at risk of type 2 diabetes so that they can reduce their risk and that if people are diagnosed, they can access the support they need to live well.
Click the Unite in the fight for change image below to visit the campaign page.
