The incidence of new cases of Type 1 diabetes in children is
rising at around 3% a year, according to a report released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
There were over 6,000 new cases in children aged 0-14 years
between 2000 and 2006, which equates to more than two new cases
each day.
Katherine Faulks of the Institute's Cardiovascular, Diabetes and
Kidney Unit said, 'The rate increased significantly from 19
children per 100,000 population in 2000 to 23 per 100,000
population in 2006.'
The report, Incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Australia
2000-2006: first results, shows that the rate of new cases of
Type 1 diabetes was highest in children aged 10-14 years at 29 per
100,000 population.
'Despite popular perception, Type 1 diabetes does not only
develop in childhood-it can arise at any age. But the disease
develops at a lower rate throughout adulthood', Ms Faulks said.
While childhood rates rose between 2000 and 2006, the rates for
people aged 15-24 years remained fairly stable, while for people
aged 25 or over, the rates fell.
'This is consistent with other studies showing that the
incidence is increasing among children but not among young adults',
Ms Faulks said.
There were almost 9,000 new cases of Type 1 diabetes in people
aged 15 years or over between 2000 and 2006, with males over the
age of 15 almost twice as likely as females of the same age to
develop the disease.
Ms Faulks said earlier analyses by the AIHW have shown that
Australia's average annual rate of new cases of Type 1 diabetes
among children is high compared with other countries.
Type 1 diabetes is caused in most cases by autoimmune
destruction of the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin,
which is needed for the body to take up glucose from the blood to
be used as an energy source . People with Type 1 diabetes need
insulin replacement in order to survive.
While it is thought that a combination of genetic and
environmental factors cause the disease, the exact factors are
unclear and research into the causes continues.
Wednesday 30 June 2008
Further information: Katherine Faulks, tel. 61
2 6244 1120, mob. 0407 915 851; or Anne-Marie Waters, tel. 61 2
9114 0433, mob. 0418 271 395.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Incidence of Type 1
diabetes in Australia 2000-2006: first results.