The rate of new cases of Type 1 diabetes in children in
Australia -- already high compared to other countries -- is
increasing, according to a new report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report shows that around 6,100 children aged 14 years and
under developed Type 1 diabetes over a seven year period, with the
rate of new cases increasing significantly between 2000 and 2005
from 19 to 23 per 100,000 children.
'Type 1 diabetes does not just develop in childhood but can
arise at any age,' said Louise Catanzariti, of the Institute's
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Unit.
During 1999--2005 there were just over 6,200 new cases of Type 1
diabetes in 15--39 year olds.
'The average annual rate of new cases was 17 per 100,000 for
15--19 year olds, around 13 per 100,000 for people in their
twenties and nine per 100,000 for people in their mid-to-late
thirties,' said Ms Catanzariti.
There were also 150 new cases of insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes
in children 14 and younger, and over 700 cases among 15--24 year
olds.
The report, National Diabetes Register -- a statistical profile
1999--2005, presents the latest results from Australia's National
Diabetes Register (NDR), which records new cases of insulin-treated
diabetes, whether Type 1, Type 2, gestational or other forms.
The report also found that death rates among NDR registrants
were three times as high as death rates in the general Australian
population.
The most common causes of death were cancers and diseases of the
circulatory system, including coronary heart disease.
Just under half of the deceased registrants (people known to
have diabetes) had diabetes listed on their death certificates as a
contributing cause.
'This makes it difficult to assess the full contribution of
diabetes to death rates, and suggests that diabetes is
underreported on death certificates,' said Ms Catanzariti.
Diabetes is one of the leading threats to the health of
Australians -- it is a large health, social and economic burden for
individuals with the disease, their families and the community. It
is associated with many complications and has a major impact on
quality of life and life expectancy.
31 August 2007
Further information: Anne-Marie Waters, AIHW,
mob. 0407 915 851; or Louise Catanzariti, AIHW, tel. 02 6244
1279.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of National Diabetes
Register: a statistical profile 1999-2005.