Diabetes The Disease Thats Killing My Family

Our health systems are overwhelmed with Type2 diabetes patients on dialysis having amputations and losing their sight What has changed and why are we becoming sick Meet two people grappling with health issues One is ready to face a diabetes test and get his health back on track while the other diagnosed with Type2 diabetes sixteen years ago is on dialysis and faces a foot amputation

Type2 diabetes is one of the most serious public health issues of our lifetime 257776 New Zealanders for example are experiencing catastrophic health effects We learn what it is like for the people living with this disease and ask how we stop their children and grandchildren from suffering the same fate

At 52 a former gang leader turned youth worker Brian Kairau has one more dream left to ride a Harley motorcycle But now he faces losing his legs He receives support from Bernice who lost her own leg after she got a blister while training for a marathon Theyre just two of the casualties of the worlds fastestgrowing health epidemic – diabetes

Like many in countries around the world Samoans have taken on a Western lifestyle Consequently they have also taken on Western problems such as obesity and other issues In one generation Type2 diabetes has gone from nonexistent to the biggest killer in the Samoan population

This episode of The Disease that is Killing my Family explores solutions to the Type2 diabetes epidemic Former gang leader Brian Kairau turned his life around to become a youth leader Now Brian has lost his left leg and his right foot from diabetic infections and feels its too late for him There is however one change he can make for his mokopuna descendants