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Former bank manager, living with type 2 diabetes

Ian Westman was watching a game of footy with one of his mates when the two blokes started talking about their health. 鈥淢y friend was curious if my diabetes had already gone away,鈥� laughs Ian who of course knows that he will live with type 2 diabetes for the rest of his life. There is no cure for diabetes.

The former bank manager from Oakleigh was 38-years young when he learned of his diagnosis. Although being a young and very active person, Ian was aware of his high risk of developing type 2 diabetes as it runs in his family. 鈥淚t was a bit of time-bomb,鈥� says Ian. His mum was keen to have him tested after he lost a lot of weight and was generally exhausted. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 looking after myself as good as I could have at that time.鈥�

Since his diagnosis in 1994, Ian has changed his diet and is very mindful of what he is eating. 鈥淚 have cut the soft drinks altogether,鈥� says Ian who loves walking his two dogs and aims to walk 10,000 steps every day. The main treatment for type 2 diabetes is healthy eating and regular physical activity. Next to making appropriate lifestyle changes, taking oral medications or administering insulin are important options in the management of type 2 diabetes.

鈥淚 feel that many people do not understand diabetes,鈥� says Ian. 鈥淓specially the differences between type 1 and type 2 are not generally known or, in my case, that some people with type 2 are required to administer insulin too.鈥� Ian is one of over 236,000 Australians (23%) who need insulin to manage their type 2 diabetes. He currently has two injections every day.