Australian first chronic disease study reveals diabetes rates in Victoria
Minister for Health David Davis today released new statistics showing that about one in 20 adult Victorians has diabetes.
Speaking at the launch of Diabetes Australia's new campaign at Parliament House, Mr Davis released findings from the Victorian Health Monitor – an Australian first study into chronic disease rates.
"The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to encouraging all Victorians to live active and healthy lifestyles and tackling chronic diseases such as diabetes," Mr Davis said.
"While new statistics show the prevalence of diabetes in 2009-10 in Victoria was 4.6 per cent, it is encouraging that detection rates are improving.
"Figures from the Victorian Health Monitor show there may be one undiagnosed case for every three diagnosed cases of diabetes, compared with a reported one undiagnosed case for every diagnosed case in 1999-2000."
The Victorian Health Monitor is a first for Victoria, providing prevalence estimates in the Victorian population of chronic diseases and associated biomedical, nutritional and lifestyle-related risk factors.
Key findings on diabetes show:
- The prevalence of diabetes was 4.6 per cent for all Victorians in 2009–2010. The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes were 0.6 per cent and 4.0 per cent, respectively;
- A further 4.3 per cent of Victorians were at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes; and
- The prevalence of diabetes was higher in those who were physically inactive and those who sat for more than eight hours a day, as well as people who were obese and those with hypertension.
Diabetes Australia's new campaign, launched today to mark the start of National Diabetes Week, calls on Governments to fund a national type 2 diabetes prevention program for Australians at high risk.
Mr Davis said the Victorian Coalition Government is leading the nation in prevention, early detection and early intervention, by investing in a range of prevention initiatives targeting specific areas, including type 2 diabetes.
"We are investing $22.2 million over four years for the Life! Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program," Mr Davis said.
"This program provides Victorians 50 years and over at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes with the skills and motivation to adopt a healthier lifestyle through long-lasting, simple and effective lifestyle changes.
"The Government has also developed the first ever Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan to fight rising rates of chronic and preventable diseases.
"We are also rolling out the Prevention Community Model (PCM) — a jointly funded initiative of the State Government of Victoria and the Australian Government — which aims to improve health and reduce health disparities in selected Victorian communities by addressing the underlying causes of chronic preventable disease.
"Operating across 14 local government areas, the PCM will reach over 1.3 million Victorians, through schools, early childhood services, workplaces and the broader community."
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