By Claire McDonnell Liu, Nutritionist at Leafie.org
Dr Muecke highlights action to prevent killer Type 2 Diabetes
Eye surgeon and 2020 Australian of the Year, Dr James Muecke AM, has spent his career fighting blindness. He now has Type-2-Diabetes, the leading cause of blindness in adults, in his sights.
Type 2 diabetes affects around 10% of Australians, it is the fastest growing cause of vision loss in Aboriginal people and the sixth-biggest killer in this country. Significantly, T2D is also preventable in the majority of cases.
1.7 million Australians live with type-2-diabetes. Many are not aware that their condition could be controlled, or even fully reversed, with food changes. Diabetics are often directed to follow a diet high in refined carbohydrates, foods with the potential to exacerbate blood glucose dis-regulation. Find a practitioner that supports type 2 diabetes management with low carb nutrition on our resources page.
A long list of serious health complications that includes sight loss or eye damage are associated with Type-2-Diabetes. As well as dramatically increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, narrowing of blood vessels (atherosclerosis); nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, impaired healing from wounds; hearing issues, sleep apne
Dr James Muecke Highlights Disease Prevention
Eye surgeon and blindness prevention pioneer, Dr Muecke co-founded both Vision Myanmar at the South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology in 2000, and social impact organisation Sight For All. In the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours Muecke was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). He received the University of Adelaide’s Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Award in 2019.
Once appointed 2020 Australian of the Year, Dr Muecke immediately advocated for a tax on sugary drinks in the fight against Type 2 Diabetes. He has used his platform to tirelessly raise awareness of the role sugar and highly processed foods play in the rise of type-2-diabetes. Dr Muecke says, ‘we have a diet-fuelled disease that is avoidable, so we can stay silent no more’. James has kindly allowed Low Carb Down Under to re-publish this video highlighting preventable blindness caused by diabetes.
Watch the live event next week as Dr Muecke addresses politicians and media at the National Press Club where he will highlight the deepest political and commercial barriers that are contributing to our nation’s greatest health disaster. Book your ticket to attend on Tuesday 1 December, 12:30pm AEST.
Cheryl Pearson
Thank you Dr Muecke for your accessabe video on ‘Silent No More’. I particularly liked your personal reference to ice-cream.
Ice-cream cones will now be a rare treat rather than a routine dessert in our home. Fruit will now take its place.
I have just this week been diagnosed with T2D.
I appreciate your clarity of speech, pauses, simple images, two case studies and opening medical explanations.
I will follow your valuable and knowledgeable advice.
All the best
Cheryl Pearson
claire
Wishing you very well with your health journey Cheryl. Do take a look at some of low Carb Down Under’s presentations on low carb nutrition to control and reverse Diabetes Type 2.
Scott Johnston
Do you have a written transcript of the portion of this excellent address particularly as it describes how diabeties is formed witin the body [commencing after around 4.3 minutes in this presentation- alternatively is there a written transcript of the total address?
Thanks
Todd Huinker
Scott, Dr. Paul Mason has numerous videos where he explains diabetes & insulin resistance and how carbs (sugar) are the culprit. Dr. Mason is also a wealth of info.
Leonie
I have been searching for your Press Club address called “Silent no more” I watched it on ABC. I have been telling people about it but can’t find it anywhere. Can you please direct me to where I might be able to view it. It was such an eye opener!
Garry Eldridge OAM
Dear Dr Muecke. I applaud you for your efforts and despair for our so-called leadership, including within your profession’s ranks.
To quote Dr (possibly Professor) Robyn Toomath in October 2015:
“I quit. After 14 years fighting New Zealand’s obesity crisis, nothing’s changed…”
and Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London has been pushing for so long..
With all of these influential and respected people failing, what do we simple folk do to effect change?
claire
Thanks for your comments Garry. We are grateful for those that have championed reform over the years.