Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Program

AGPN is contracted by the Department of Health and Ageing to implement the national Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Program from 2008 to 2012.  The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Program is part of the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to the Council of Australian Government’s agreement to tackle the burden of type 2 diabetes.  The Program has been developed to enable eligible patients to access a subsidised, accredited lifestyle modification program (LMP) to prevent and/or delay their progression to type 2 diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease which affects the insulin control in the body and the pancreas. For people living with diabetes the pancreas has either stopped entirely producing insulin or its supply of insulin is limited.

Insulin is needed to extract the sugars (glucose) from food and convert it into energy for our bodies to function. Without insulin in the body, it burns its own fats instead, which is unhealthy.

There are three main types of diabetes:  type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is where the body makes some insulin but it is not enough for your body to work effectively. Type 2 diabetes is also the most common type of diabetes in Australia with an estimated 85-90 percent of people with diabetes having Type 2.

Major risk factors linked to the development of type 2 diabetes:

  • overweight
  • lack of physical activity
  • have high blood pressure.

AGPN gratefully acknowledges the funding support from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing for this program.