Diabetes facts

Results of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Life Study (AusDiab) released April 2001 show that nearly one in four Australian adults has either diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism, both of which are associated with substantial increased risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

It is the sixth highest cause of death by disease in Australia
People with diabetes are almost three times more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity or elevated blood fats eg cholesterol.
They are two to three times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, eg heart disease and stroke
65%-80% of people with diabetes will die of coronary heart disease
15% of people with diabetes have heart disease compared to 2.5% without diabetes
Renal disease accounts for 8% - 14% of deaths in people with diabetes
5% of people with diabetes will experience foot ulcers
Of the 3000 amputations every year in people with diabetes, most are preventable
Australia�s indigenous population suffers the fourth highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in the world

Statistics

Type 2 Diabetes is Australia�s fastest growing chronic disease
Almost 1,500 people are diagnosed every week, 214 people every day
599,259 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes.
For every one who knows they have it, another has it but doesn�t know it - yet
That is a total of 1.2 million people including those who are unaware they have diabetes
By 2010, Diabetes Australia expects the number to reach 1.8 million

High risk categories for developing Type 2 diabetes

Over 45 years of age and have high blood pressure
Over 45 years of age and overweight
Over 45 years of age and one of more members of the family has/had diabetes
Over 55 years of age
Have heart disease or had a heart attack
Have/had high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
Have recorded a pre-diabetes Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) or Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) blood
glucose level
Have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Over 35 years of age and are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Over 35 years of age and from Pacific Islands, Indian subcontinent or Chinese cultural background

The information on this page was kindly provided by Diabetes Australia.
For more information Phone: 1300 136 588
Statistics sourced from DA surveys, AusDiab, Diabcost September 2002 and partner health organizations.