This NAIDOC Week (July 7 to 14), the diabetes community and all Australians are being encouraged to Keep the Fire Burning!

This year’s theme honours the enduring strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Diabetes Australia highlighted the risk of type 2 diabetes posed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in its recent State of the Nation report.

The report outlines how diabetes disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

In central Australia’s remote areas, a study found that 40% of Aboriginal adults had been diagnosed with diabetes, marking the highest recorded diabetes prevalence in the world.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also face the world’s highest rates of youth-onset type 2 diabetes.

Despite the effects of diabetes today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples across Australia maintain an enduring cultural strength. At Diabetes Australia, we value traditional knowledge and uphold it throughout our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs.

As we celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living cultures, NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all of us to respond to the challenge of addressing the diabetes health emergency.

As we Keep the Fire Burning, let’s unite in the fight for change.