Credit: NHS Diabetes Network

In Australia, nearly 1.5 million people are affected by type 2 diabetes, of which about 750,000 have been properly diagnosed.

People with type 2 diabetes have some (but not enough) insulin in their system that enables glucose to be transported from the blood to other organs in the body, unlike type 1 diabetes - the body can't make insulin.

Consequently, the excess glucose remains in the blood stream of diabetics, giving off a higher than normal blood glucose level.

Recently, a new magic pill - a tablet has been developed for people with type 2 diabetes with an aim to lower blood glucose levels, without having the side effects of the usual medications.

Dr Gary Deed, director of Diabetes Australia, Queensland said, The condition is commonly monitored with glucose-lowering tablet, diet, exercise, and sometimes insulin.

The repercussion of prolonged high blood glucose is naturally detrimental for the body as it is associated with a number of diseases such as heart attack, nerve damage, stroke, kidney disorder and blindness, said Dr Deed.

One in three affected Australians struggle to control their condition, but many sufferers are in the dark about what their optimal blood glucose level should be.

And then, there is the problem of weight gain.

According to research, most people with type 2 diabetes struggle with weigh gain and that medication also influence their weight gain, said Dr Deed.

A new tablet called Galvus, holds a promise to cut down blood sugar levels without affecting body weight.

The table significantly increases the chances of type 2 diabetics to reach their blood glucose targets by less than seven per cent, said Professor Greg Fulcher, director of diabetes services at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

The tablets are to be taken once or twice every day and will be listed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by August 1st.

Australia Medicine