Nternational Diabetes Leader and Experts Launch Diabetes Australia S New Strategy And

nternational diabetes leader and experts launch Diabetes Australia’s new strategy and action plan

Diabetes is a 21st century pandemic affecting over 370 million people worldwide. International Diabetes Federation President Sir Michael Hirst is in Australia to shine a light on global diabetes issues and to launch a National Diabetes Strategy and Action Plan.

“In 2012 the worldwide cost of diabetes was estimated at $US471 billion and there were 4.8 million diabetes related deaths worldwide. The western pacific region has the highest prevalence of any region in the world. There are 92 million people in China with diabetes and over 160 million in the western pacific region”.” Sir Michael Hirst said today at an address at the National Press Club. “All countries need to have their own national strategies to address this challenge and prevent diabetes from developing and prevent the serious complications. Australia is not alone in this” says Sir Michael Hirst launching Diabetes Australia’s new National diabetes Strategy and Action Plan for the next Australian Government to develop and implement post-election 2014.

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson paints the Australian picture. “On current trends diabetes will become the no. 1 burden of disease in Australia in the next 5 years. Type 2 diabetes currently costs the Australian community $14.6 billion a year. This will double to $30 billion in 12 years if we don’t adopt stronger approaches to preventing diabetes and its complications”.

“At least 1.5 million Australians have diabetes. 280 Australians develop diabetes every day - nearly 100,000 Australians developed diabetes in the past year.” Professor Johnson said all types of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes are increasing in prevalence and it was time for a new national strategy and action plan which the incoming government should develop and implement.

“There is no such thing as ‘mild’ diabetes. All types of diabetes are serious and can lead to complications. For example heart attacks and strokes kill people with diabetes early and are four times more likely in people with diabetes” Professor Johnson said.

Professor Paul Zimmet, a member of the expert committee which helped prepare the new national strategy for Diabetes Australia set out the five key goals:

1. Prevent complications – through optimal management and earlier diagnosis
2. Prevent more people from developing type 2 diabetes.
3. Reduce the impact of diabetes in pregnancy for women and children
4. Reduce the impact of diabetes on ATSI people
5. Strengthen prevention through knowledge and evidence

Prof Zimmet said “Diabetes Australia is calling for national targets for the primary care system, hospitals and diabetes centres to focus on prevention of complications – and better access to treatments and technologies to support prevention of complications and burden of diabetes.”

Professor Stephen Colagiuri, a member of the expert committee, spoke of the need for a National Diabetes Prevention Program as part of the National Diabetes Strategy and this should be financially supported by all governments, health insurers, employers and workers compensation insurers – to achieve the benefits of reduced cost and increased productivity. “There are over 2 million people with prediabetes and at high risk. Prevention of type 2 diabetes in this population is proven, possible and powerful – Australia needs to put in place a national prevention program” said Prof Colagiuri.

The growing impact on women and children of gestational diabetes where over 20,000 women are affected each year and both the mother and children have increased health risk is addressed in a specific goal.

The terrible impact of diabetes on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people where there is much higher risk of getting diabetes and higher rates of complications is addressed in a specific goal.

The strategy also calls for a National Diabetes Commission to be established to monitor achievements against a national strategy and provide public transparency.

Professor Johnson said discrimination needed to be addressed along with ensuring access to new treatments and technologies including continuous glucose monitoring for people at high risk. The growing social and economic burden of diabetes underscored the importance of a national approach to early detection, management and prevention of diabetes.

“Australia has been an international leader in diabetes. We were the first country in the world to introduce universal, government-supported assistance for self-monitoring and self-management of diabetes (National Diabetes Services Scheme 1987).”

“We want to see leadership from an incoming government to take this National Diabetes Strategy and Action Plan, and develop and implement it over coming years.”

Diabetes Australia is the national body for people affected by all types of diabetes and those at risk, and is committed to reducing the impact of diabetes working in partnership with consumers, health professionals and researchers.

For more information or interview: Lyn Curtis, 0411 019 924,