Preventing Diabetes: Why Innovation Shouldn't Stop at Technology
As National Diabetes Week rolls around once again, Diabetes Australia is focusing on the ‘impact of tech on diabetes’ for the 2024 theme. We live in a tech-driven world, and anything with a gadget attached gets attention. But as we celebrate the latest apps and devices promising to revolutionise diabetes management, it’s worth asking: “What’s really being done about prevention? “
Diabetes is a massive issue in Australia. We’re talking about 2-3 million people with either diagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes, with about 300 Australians developing it every day. The focus on management is crucial, but the Federal health initiatives seem to be sidestepping a fundamental aspect: prevention. Technology can indeed help manage the condition, but shouldn’t we be putting more effort into stopping it from developing in the first place?
Let’s talk about prevention
There’s a lot of lip service paid to it, but real, impactful initiatives are hard to find. Our government has programs aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles, but they often fall short of reaching the people who need them the most. Community health campaigns are great, but they’re not enough on their own. What we need are comprehensive strategies that tackle the root causes of diabetes. A sugar tax would be a great place to start!
As of 2024, 108 countries around the world have implemented some form of tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). These taxes are designed to make sugary drinks less attractive and to promote healthier consumption habits. If the average person truly appreciated that every time they drank a 375ml can of regular soft drink, which contains on average about 39 grams of sugar, they were consuming approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar, they might re-consider their intake!! Whilst the average person doesn’t want to be told what to do, truthful education about what they are eating and drinking might be a far more powerful deterrent.
Back in 2021 the AMA estimated that Australian’s consumed ‘More than 2.4 billion litres of sugary drinks every year. That’s enough to fill 960 Olympic sized swimming pools.’ Despite such statistics, seems no one’s really been listening.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has been advocating for a sugar tax, for years now, indicating that reducing the consumption of sugary drinks would lower rates of obesity, tooth decay, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, but a sugar tax continues to be fiercely opposed by the food and beverage industry.
Globally, the fast food industry is estimated to spend $ 100 billion on advertising, and here in Australia, according to the National Obesity Strategy, its estimated the big fast-food restaurant chains – McDonald’s, Domino’s, KFC and Subway – spend a combined $500 million or more a year on marketing and advertising.
One must also question why we are allowing children to be bombarded in prime-time TV and during high-profile sporting fixtures with advertising of fast-food high in saturated fats and carbohydrates and with questionable nutritional value?
Food for Health Alliance Executive Manager, Jane Martin said children should be free to learn, socialise and be entertained, without being bombarded by ads for harmful products. “Children should be able to enjoy TV shows or go online to study, play games or connect with friends without the processed food industry targeting them and saturating their screens with ads for unhealthy food,” Ms Martin said. “Each junk food ad for a burger, sugary drink or unhealthy meal deal undermines what kids know and understand about a nutritious diet, powerfully shaping what they ask for, want and prefer.”
There is strong evidence that this harmful product marketing impacts children’s diets, putting them at higher risk of overweight and obesity, which increases their risk of serious chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and 13 types of cancer in adulthood.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Amidst the tech frenzy, there’s a quiet revolution happening in the world of Food-as-Medicine. Enter NutriKane™ D, an innovative product that’s making waves for its potential to manage elevated blood glucose levels naturally. This isn’t some fad diet or miracle cure. NutriKane™ D is a scientifically backed product derived from whole plant sources, designed to help people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels
NutriKane™ D works by improving gut health and aiding in the slow release of glucose into the bloodstream. Unlike many other products on the market, it’s not about adding chemicals or artificial ingredients. It leverages the natural benefits of plant fibres and bioactive compounds. Studies have shown that it can significantly reduce blood glucose levels after meals, which is a big deal for anyone trying to manage their diabetes. And especially so if weight loss is part of their goals as well.
So, why aren’t we hearing more about this? It seems the spotlight is firmly on high-tech solutions, which, while important, shouldn’t overshadow other effective approaches. NutriKane™ D represents a shift towards holistic, natural management and prevention strategies. It’s the kind of innovation that could make a real difference if given the attention and support it deserves.
The irony here is palpable. We have a product born from natural ingredients, offering a sustainable way to manage and potentially prevent diabetes, but it’s being overshadowed by the latest tech craze. It’s high time we broadened our focus. While technology is fantastic and has its place, we mustn’t ignore other viable solutions, especially those that can contribute to the prevention of the onset of diabetes.
Prevention should be the cornerstone of our approach to diabetes. Federal health initiatives need to catch up. They need to recognise that while technology is part of the solution, it’s not the only part. We need a balanced approach that includes technology, investment in early education for children, community programs to generally raise awareness of the prevalence of sugar and unhealthy fats in our food chain, checks and balances on the fast food and beverage industry in the form of a sugar tax, free early detection testing protocols, and products like NutriKane™ D that offer real, tangible benefits.
Conclusion: Imagine a world where the number of new diabetes cases is dropping instead of rising. It’s possible, but it requires a radical shift in how we think about and approach health care. This multi-faceted strategy is our best bet for turning the tide against diabetes. During National Diabetes Week as we celebrate technological advancements in diabetes management, let’s advocate for more comprehensive health initiatives that include natural, innovative solutions like NutriKane™ D. By doing so, we can hope for a future where diabetes is not just managed but significantly prevented. It’s time for a change in focus. Let’s make it happen!