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Diabetes Facts
In 1990, approximately 350,000 Australians had "diagnosed"
diabetes and an estimated 300,000 Australians had "undiagnosed"
diabetes, together representing 3.8% of the total population.
Diabetes is likely to affect 900,000 Australians by 2000 and 1.15 million
Australians by 2010.
Juvenile diabetes (Type 1), or insulin dependent diabetes, which usually
affect young people, ranks as one of the most common serious childhood
diseases in Australia. It is likely to have a higher incidence in children
under 20 years of age than cancer, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis,
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and muscular dystrophy.
Australia has very high rates of Type 1 Diabetes compared with most
countries in the world.
Females with Type 1 Diabetes have ten times the rates of cardiovascular
mortality compared with non-diabetic females.
Australian Aborigines suffer the 4th highest rates of Type 2 Diabetes in the
world.
The incidence of diabetes in pregnancy is increasing, particularly in ethnic
populations.
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes such as obesity and physical inactivity are
increasing in Australia.
Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders suffer exceptionally high
rates of diabetic nerve damage, blindness and infection.
Australians with diabetes experience a reduced life-span and higher rates of
eye, heart and kidney disease and stroke compared non-diabetic Australians.
The total cost of diabetes likely exceeds $ 1 billion annually (or about
$2,800 per diagnosed case).
Cost effective strategies to prevent Type 2 Diabetes and reduce diabetic
complications have been developed but are not in place in Australia.
Rise and Rise of Diabetes in Australia (1996)
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