Media release

Diabetes, a growing health threat for Australians

Diabetes is one of the leading threats to the health of Australians, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Australians under 40 years: a snapshot of National Diabetes Register data for 2004, presents the latest available national data on the number of new cases of Type 1 diabetes occurring in Australia.

Diabetes is a chronic condition, and people who have it are at increased risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.

Louise Catanzariti of the AIHW's Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Unit said 'The fact that diabetes is generally on the increase is well documented. This report gives us the latest data on just how many of Australia's children, adolescents and adults under 40 are developing Type 1 diabetes.'

'There were 982 new cases of Type 1 diabetes in children aged 0-14 years registered during 2004, and there were another 877 cases in people aged 15-39 years. This equates to an age-standardised annual incidence rate of 24.6 new cases of Type 1 diabetes per 100,000 people for 0-14 year olds, and 12.3 for 15-39 year olds in 2004,' Ms Catanzariti said.

The rate of new cases among 0-4 year olds however, was significantly lower than for 5-9 year olds and for 10-14 year olds. No significant differences were found between boys and girls aged 0-14 years among registrants with Type 1 diabetes.

The National Diabetes Register, held at the AIHW in Canberra, has collected information about people who use insulin to treat their diabetes since 1999.

'While there have been some changes to the Register which have prevented trend data being presented in this bulletin, there is already some state-based evidence that the incidence of Type 1 diabetes is increasing and we look forward to providing national information about these trends later this year,' Ms Catanzariti said.

17 May 2006

Further information: Ms Lynelle Moon, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1235, mob. 0407 915 851 or
Ms 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 the Incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Australians under 40 years: a snapshot of National Diabetes Register data for 2004