Diabetes Australia has noted the release today of a new report – Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease – Australian Facts: Mortality from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare which shows that 53,000 deaths each year result from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease which are highly inter-related.

Diabetes Australia CEO, Professor Greg Johnson “This report is based on death certificate data which under-reports diabetes related deaths,” said Prof Johnson. “Often people may have had diabetes for many years and yet, when they die of a heart attack or stroke or kidney failure that was directly related to diabetes – the diabetes is not recorded on the death certificate.”