Diabetes Costing The Nation

Article By Diabetes Australia

The impact of diabetes on the Australian community was highlighted in a new report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Diabetes Australia President Dr Gary Deed said “As a nation we need to turn the rising tide of  diabetes around. This will require a concerted effort from all key stakeholders, government at all levels, non-government organisations, community based agencies and their leaders to work in partnership to develop healthier lifestyles.

Dr Deed noted the information, reported by Dr Penny Allbon who heads up the AIHW, that the prevalence of diabetes has doubled in the past decade and that this was attributable to lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, overweight and obesity and lack of physical activity.

These risk factors have led to Australia having 7.4 million people overweight and 30% of those obese. In addition, 3 out of 10 Australia children are overweight or obese.

However, Dr Deed said that “Clearly, national strategies are needed beyond behaviourally based awareness raising campaigns that focus just on physical activity and healthy eating.”

“We need concerted, committed and coordinated action at systems and organisational level to address the underlying social determinants of health that cause risk factors for obesity and diabetes.”

These social determinants of health include low income and unemployment, low levels of education and social connection, poor housing and public transport, food insecurity, unsafe workplaces, unplanned or poorly planned urbanisation, lack of access to health services.

Dr Deed said that “Diabetes Australia believes we must deal with the obesogenic environment in this way if we want real change which is sustainable over the long term and help create an environment where healthy choices can be easier choices.”

In addition Dr Deed suggested that Australia simply could not afford to continue to pay the bill for diabetes health care.

It is projected that the expenditure for diabetes is to increase by over 400%. This is simply unsustainable.”

“We need healthier cities, communities and neighbourhoods that are well informed about health and have the capacity to understand and make healthy choices. Governments should be the ones that make those choices easier for people.”