Diabetes Australia is pleased to welcome Rowan Ramsey MP as the new Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Diabetes Group.

Mr Ramsey replaces Ken Wyatt MP who has stepped down from the role. Diabetes Australia thanks Mr Wyatt for all of his time and effort invested in the role and wishes him well as the Assistant Minister for Health.

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he was committed to dealing with the diabetes epidemic and that was why he recently took on the role as Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Diabetes Group in Federal Parliament.

“Regional and rural South Australia has the highest rate of diabetes in the nation,†Mr Ramsey said today.

“Certainly the news that Grey has the worst figures in the nation is not welcome and I hope acts as a signal that we all need to evaluate our lifestyles. Of course not all diabetes are caused by poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise, but certainly for type 2, it really increases the risk.

“Diabetes has a huge impact on communities and is a huge burden on our hospitals and health system with about 1 on every 4 hospital beds occupied for diabetes or a related complication.â€

According to Diabetes Australia’s Australian Diabetes Map there are 11,736 people living with diabetes in Grey. This includes:

• 10,653 people with type 2 diabetes
• 886 people with type 1 diabetes
• 144 women with gestational diabetes
• 53 people with other types of diabetes.

Mr Ramsey said there were a number of factors contributing to the high rates of diabetes in Grey.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities show very high rates of diabetes which can be three to four times higher than non-Indigenous communities,†Mr Ramsey said.

“It is an enormous threat to their very existence cutting down the most experienced elders well before their time.

“We need to increase knowledge of the factors that can help prevent type 2 diabetes in these communities, such as; a higher proportion of fresh fruit and vegetables in their diets and a plan for higher levels of physical activityâ€.

Mr Ramsey said World Diabetes Day (14 November) was an important time to raise awareness about the size of the diabetes epidemic and what needs to be done to reduce the impact of the disease.