Diabetes In Australia Essay

Diabetes is on the rise and is becoming a major health issue in Australia. It can be hard to determine the extent of diabetes as there is an estimated large number of cases that remain undiagnosed. Approximately 275 adults in Australia develop diabetes every day that means more than 100,000 annually. This equates to 8 adults in every 1,000. Over five years, people with previously known the incidence of diabetes has raised significantly over the past 20 years. In 2007–08, 898 800 people or 4.1 per cent of the Australian population reported that they had medically diagnosed diabetes. The rate for diabetes was higher for males than females in most age groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have one of the highest prevalence rates

Diabetes is three times more common than 20 years ago. Mortality, even with the increase in incidence and prevalence the mortality rates have remained reasonably unchanged. Diabetes is the 8th leading specific cause of death for both males and females accounting for 1,923 deaths or 2.7% of all deaths in males, and 1,887, or 2.8%of deaths in females. Diabetes is also a contributing cause of death in about 10% of all deaths for both males and females. The trends in death rates of diabetes as the underlying cause increased from 15.8 to 16.5 per 100,000 between 1980 and 2007. Death rates for males increased by 21%, but decreased by 8% for females between 1980 and 2007. The death rates increase with age, 87% of deaths with diabetes as the underlying cause where in those aged 65 years or older. Diabetes death rates are 6.6times higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Prevalence, has risen from 1.3% of the Australian population diagnosed with diabetes in 1990 to 2.4% in 1995 to 4% in 07-08 the rise is mostly due to the increase in type 2, diabetes, but there has also been a rise in those suffering with type 1. In all age groups males suffer higher rates of diabetes than females, male’s rate 5% and females