New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal a concerning increase in diabetes prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, highlighting urgent public health challenges.

According to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey 2022–24, there has been an increase of nearly 40 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with diabetes, jumping from 11.1 per cent just over a decade ago to 15.5 per cent now.

Although the bureau reports that almost one in six (15.5 per cent) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults now lives with diabetes, these figures may be a significant under-report due to challenges collecting health data in remote and regional areas.

The survey also confirmed significant regional disparities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in remote areas experience higher diabetes rates (21.7 per cent) compared to those in non-remote regions (14.3 per cent). Furthermore, diabetes prevalence significantly rises with age: while just 5.5 per cent of adults aged 18–34 have diabetes, this rate jumps to 34.6 per cent among those aged 55 and over.

Disturbingly, nearly one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with diabetes was unaware they had the condition, raising concerns about the substantial number of undiagnosed cases, including among younger populations. Although the survey focused primarily on adults, health professionals indicate that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children now face unprecedented risks of type 2 diabetes, especially in regions like Central and Northern Australia, which have some of the highest youth-onset diabetes rates globally.

Alongside diabetes, more than a quarter (25.7 per cent) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults were found to have abnormally high cholesterol levels, with those living in non-remote areas particularly affected (27.8 per cent) compared to remote regions (16.5 per cent).

The findings underscore critical health disparities driven by ongoing issues such as limited access to affordable, healthy foods, and culturally appropriate health services. Diabetes Australia is a strong advocate for greater investment in preventive healthcare measures to address rising chronic disease rates.

The ABS data is a clear call for urgent action, prioritising screening, early diagnosis, preventive care, and culturally tailored health strategies to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-measures-survey/2022-24