New data from Diabetes Australia reveals people in the Northern Territory are more than four times more likely to be hospitalised with diabetes-related kidney disease than people living in Northern Sydney.

The data, which is modelled on figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing’s report Geographical variation in disease: diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, revealsthat the 10 Primary Health Networks reporting the highest rates of diabetes-related kidney disease are all in regional and remote areas.

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain says the findings demonstrate an urgent need for a National Diabetes Kidney Disease Screening Program to be established.

Ms Cain said the pattern of regions being hardest hit by kidney hospitalisations highlights the need to improve early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

“Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, with more than 330,000 people living with both conditions,” Ms Cain said.

“The impact of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) on hospitalisations points to an urgent need to increase rates of kidney checks among people living with diabetes.

“Australians living in regional and remote areas do not have access to the same health services as those in metropolitan areas and they’re paying a heavy price for that in terms of their kidney health.

“There are a number of effective interventions and medications that can prevent or slow the progress of kidney disease but early diagnosis is essential so treatment can start when it’s most beneficial.”

Although the Northern Territory PHN was the worst affected health district reporting 648 hospitalisations for diabetic kidney disease per 100,000 people, Western Queensland (359), Hunter New England and Central Coast (340), North Coast (327), Central Queensland and Sunshine Coast (315), Northern Queensland (296), Darling Downs and West Moreton (289), Country WA (278), Murrumbidgee (275) and Murray (270) PHNs topped Australia’s health districts for diabetic kidney disease hospitalisations.

Kidney Health Australia CEO, Chris Forbes said investment in early detection and management would greatly improve the lives of people living with diabetes and kidney disease, while also saving billions of dollars long-term for the health system.

“Kidney Health Australia recently released a Deloitte Access Economics report into the cost of chronic kidney disease on the health system, which found every dollar invested in early detection and prevention returns around $45,” Mr Forbes said.

“The time is now to invest in protecting more Australians from reaching kidney failure and provide more supports to those already living with the burden of this disease.”

Joseph Kizana, 58, is grateful that his nephrologist started him on dialysis while he still had some kidney function left. His specialist wanted Joseph to avoid further problems before they developed.

Joseph has experienced his unfair share of diabetes complications. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 27, Joseph did his best to ignore the condition but six years after he was diagnosed, he was admitted to hospital with heart irregularities.

That was the start. Joseph developed kidney disease, damage to his eyes, peripheral neuropathy causing nerve pain and numbness in his hands and feet, and eventually his right foot was amputated.

Now Joseph is on dialysis three times a week for five hours each day. He is unable to have a kidney transplant as his heart function is too poor.

Ms Cain said Diabetes Australia was concerned about the low rates of annual kidney disease screening among people living with diabetes.

“We know that only one in four people living with diabetes are getting their kidneys checked within the recommended timeframe,” she said.

“Our message for people living with diabetes is simple. Make an appointment to get your kidneys checked today. Your best chance of delaying chronic kidney disease is by catching problems early.”