Diabetes prevalence in Australia
Detailed estimates for 2007–08
July 2011

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is Australia’s national
health and welfare statistics and information agency. The Institute’s mission is
 better information and statistics for better health and wellbeing. 
© Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2011

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This publication is part of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Diabetes series. A complete list of the Institute’s publications is available from the Institute’s website <www.aihw.gov.au>. 

ISSN 1444-8033
ISBN 978-1-74249-180-6
Suggested citation
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2011. Diabetes prevalence in Australia: detailed estimates for 2007–08. Diabetes series no. 17. Cat. no. CVD 56. Canberra: AIHW.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Board Chair
Hon. Peter Collins, AM, QC
	
Director
David Kalisch
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Published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Please note that there is the potential for minor revisions of data in this report.
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations and acronyms
Symbols
Summary
1	Introduction
Purpose of this report
About the estimates in this report
2	Prevalence of diabetes
Total diabetes
Number of people with diagnosed diabetes
Distribution of people with diabetes by sex and age
Proportion of people diagnosed with diabetes by sex and age
Number of people diagnosed with diabetes by state and territory
Proportion of people with diabetes by state and territory
People diagnosed with diabetes by remoteness
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Number of people with Type 2 diabetes
Proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by sex and age
Number of people with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory
Proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory
People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by remoteness
Appendix: Detailed statistical tables
Glossary
List of tables
List of figures
Acknowledgments
This report was prepared by Justin Harvey of the National Centre for Monitoring Diabetes at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Valuable input on the report was gratefully received from Susana Senes, Vanessa Prescott, Anne-Marie Waters and Claire Lee-Koo.
This report was prepared under the guidance of the National Diabetes Data Working Group, chaired by Associate Professor Jeff Flack. Members of the working group at the time of publication were Ms Janelle Babare, Professor Stephen Colagiuri, Associate Professor Maria Craig, Associate Professor Wendy Davis, Ms Susan Davidson, Mr Robert Guthrie, Professor Mark Harris, Ms Monique Machutta, Dr Glynis Ross, Ms Susana Senes and Associate Professor Jonathan Shaw.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded this report.
Abbreviations and acronyms
ABS			Australian Bureau of Statistics
ACT			Australian Capital Territory
AIHW			Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
CI			Confidence Interval
CURF			Confidentialised Unit Record File
NHS			National Health Survey
NSW			New South Wales
NT			Northern Territory
Qld			Queensland
RSE			Relative Standard Error
SA			South Australia
SE			Standard Error
Tas			Tasmania
Vic			Victoria
WA			Western Australia

Symbols
%			per cent
Summary
This report presents the most up-to-date estimates of the number of people with diagnosed diabetes in Australia based on self-reports to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2007–08 National Health Survey.
Key findings:
•	In 2007–08, an estimated 898,800 Australians had been diagnosed with diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes) at some time in their lives.
•	87,100 had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
•	787,500 had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
•	56% of those diagnosed with diabetes were male and 44% were female.
•	About 96% of people with diabetes were 35 years old or more, and 43% were aged 65 years or more.
•	The proportion of people with diabetes was similar in all states and territories, after accounting for differences in age.
•	After accounting for differences in age, the proportion of people with diabetes was similar in major cities, regional areas and remote areas.

1	Introduction
Purpose of this report
This report presents information on the prevalence of diabetes in Australia, that is people living with diabetes, by diabetes type, age, sex, state of usual residence and remoteness.
About the estimates in this report
The estimates presented in this report were produced using data from the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey (2007–08 NHS). The two measures ‘whether ever diagnosed with diabetes’ and ‘type of diabetes ever diagnosed with’ were used to produce the diabetes estimates (see Box 1.1 for a description of the survey questions). These measures do not include people who actually have diabetes but are not aware of it. It is not known how many Australians currently have undiagnosed diabetes.
The diabetes estimates presented in this report differ from those in previous AIHW reports and in ABS publications because they are based on different survey measures. The new estimation method adopted in this report is considered more reliable as it eliminates the restriction of the diabetes being reported as ‘current’. People may report their diabetes as ‘not current’ if it is treated and controlled, when in fact the diabetes is present. See Box 1.2 below for a description of the additional survey questions used previously.

Box 1.1: Survey questions used to determine diabetes status for this report
The following two questions in the ABS National Health Survey were used to determine survey participants’ diabetes status, which is the basis for the estimates in this report:
1.	Have you ever been told by a doctor or nurse that you have diabetes?
2.	What type(s) of diabetes were you told you have? (more than one response was allowed)
	- Type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus/juvenile onset diabetes/Type A)
	- Type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus/adult onset diabetes/Type B)
	- gestational (pregnancy)
	- diabetes insipidus
	- other
	- unknown.
Responses of ‘Type 1’,’ Type 2’ or ‘unknown diabetes type’ to question 2 were included in producing estimates for this report. Responses of ‘gestational diabetes’ and ‘diabetes insipidus’ were not included.
This measure produces an estimate of people who report having ever been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes or an unknown diabetes type.

Box 1.2: Additional survey questions used to determine diabetes status in previous AIHW publications and ABS publications
In addition to the questions in Box 1.1, the following questions were used in determining survey participants’ diabetes status in previous AIHW reports and ABS publications:
1.	Do you currently have diabetes?
2.	Which types of diabetes do you currently have? (more than one response was allowed)
	- Type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus/juvenile onset diabetes/Type A)
	- Type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus/adult onset diabetes/Type B)
	- gestational (pregnancy)
	- diabetes insipidus
	- other – specify
	- unknown.
Responses of ‘Type 1’,’ Type 2’ or ‘unknown diabetes type’ were used in previous AIHW reports and ABS publications to produce estimates of people who report they currently have Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes or unknown diabetes type. This measure was then used to produce an estimate of people who report that they currently have diabetes. Gestational diabetes and diabetes insipidus were not included.
2	Prevalence of diabetes
Total diabetes
Number of people with diagnosed diabetes
An estimated 898,800 Australians had been diagnosed with diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes) at some time in their lives according to self-reports in the 2007–08 NHS.
Approximately 87,100 people had Type 1 diabetes and 787,500 people had Type 2 diabetes based on the type of diabetes reported (Figure 1, Table A1). For the remainder, the type of diabetes was not known.
Figure 1: Number of people with diagnosed diabetes by type of diabetes, Australia 2007–08
Pie chart showing, diabetes type not known 3%, type 1 87,100, 10%, type 2 787,500, 87%, total diabetes 898,800.
Note: Gestational diabetes is not included in 'Total diabetes'.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Distribution of people with diabetes by sex and age
Of the 898,800 people with diabetes, 56% were males (501,300) and 44% were females (397,500). Approximately 96% of people with diabetes were 35 years old or more, and 43% were aged 65 years or more (Figure 2, Table A2).
Figure 2: Age distribution of people with diabetes, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis age group (years).
Note: Excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Proportion of people diagnosed with diabetes by sex and age
In 2007–08, approximately 4.4% of Australians had been diagnosed with diabetes at some time in their lives. The proportion of males with diabetes (4.9%) was higher than that of females (3.8%). The proportion of people with diabetes increased with increasing age from 0.3% among those aged 0–34 years to 15.8% of 65–69 year olds. The proportion of people with diabetes then decreased gradually with increasing age to around 14% of those aged 80 years or more (Figure 3, Table A2).
Figure 3: Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by age, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis age group (years).
Note: Excludes gestational diabetes
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Number of people diagnosed with diabetes by state and territory
In 2007–08, an estimated 307,200 people with diabetes lived in New South Wales, 208,000 in Victoria and 178,900 in Queensland. Approximately 80,400 lived in South Australia, 77,900 in Western Australia, 19,100 in Tasmania, 17,400 in the Northern Territory and 10,000 in the Australian Capital Territory (Figure 4, Table A4).
Note that the 2007–08 ABS National Health Survey did not include very remote areas. The exclusion of these persons has only a minor impact on the estimates produced for individual states and territories, with the exception of the Northern Territory (NT), where more than 1 in 5 people live in very remote areas. Estimates presented here for the Northern Territory also have a relative standard error (RSE) of more than 25%, so they should be used with caution. For further information on relative standard errors see the Glossary.
Figure 4: Number and proportion of people with diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Map of Australia showing, Western Australia 77,900, 3.8%, Northern Territory 17,400, 10.6%, Queensland 178,900, 4.4%, New South Wales 307,200, 4.5%, Australian Capital Territory 10,000, 3.0%, Tasmania 19,100, 4.0%, Victoria 208,000, 4.0%, South Australia 80,400, 5.2% and Australian total, 898,800, 4.4%.
Notes
1.	Numbers and percentages presented are not age-standardised.
2.	Percentages presented are as a proportion of the population in each state and territory.
3.	Total diabetes excludes gestational diabetes.
4.	Northern Territory estimates have a relative standard error greater than 25% so should be used with caution.
5.	Northern Territory estimates are representative for only non-very-remote areas.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Proportion of people with diabetes by state and territory
The proportion of people with diabetes ranged from 3.0% in the ACT to 10.6% in the NT. Compared with the national average, the crude proportion of people with diabetes was significantly lower in the ACT, whereas there were no significant differences for the states or the NT (Figure 5, Table A4). After adjusting for differences in age structure, the difference between the ACT and Australia was not statistically significant. This indicates that the difference between the ACT and Australia is due, at least in part, to the fact that people living in the ACT are slightly younger on average.
Figure 5: Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis, state and territory.
Notes
1.	Proportions shown are not age-standardised.
2.	Excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
People diagnosed with diabetes by remoteness
Of the 898,800 Australians with diabetes, around 557,700 (62%) lived in Australia’s major cities, 230,700 (26%) in inner regional areas and 110,400 (12%) in outer regional or remote areas (Table A5). Note that the 2007–08 ABS National Health Survey did not include very remote areas. See ‘Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas’ in the Glossary for an explanation of the remoteness area categories.
The proportion with diabetes was similar in inner regional areas (5.2% of the population) and outer regional or remote areas (5.1%) but was lower in major cities (4.0%) (Figure 6, Table A5). After accounting for age differences between areas, the difference between major cities and inner regional/outer regional/remote areas was not statistically significant. This indicates that the difference between major cities and these other areas is due, at least in part, to the fact that people living in regional/remote areas tend to be older on average.
Figure 6: Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by remoteness, Australia, 2007-08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis, major cities, inner regional, outer regional & remote, and Australia
Notes
1.	Proportions shown are not age-standardised.
2.	Excludes very remote areas.
3.	Excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Type 1 diabetes
Approximately 87,100 Australians (0.4% of the Australian population) had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes based on self-reports in the 2007–08 NHS (Table A6). Around 53% of them were 45 years old or more. Just over half (53%) were males and 47% were females.
Of all people aged 45 years or more, 0.6% had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, compared with 0.3% among those aged less than 45 years. However, some of this difference may be due to some people with Type 2 diabetes who use insulin reporting in the survey that they have Type 1 diabetes.
The proportion of people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes living in regional or remote areas (0.5%) was similar to that living in major cities (0.4%) (Table A7).
The level of detail on prevalence of Type 1 diabetes that we can obtain from the National Health Survey is limited. Due to the fact that the proportion of the population with Type 1 diabetes is very small, the survey sample can only reliably support population estimates for the broad age groups presented above, and reliable estimates cannot be produced for all states and territories.
Type 2 diabetes
Number of people with Type 2 diabetes
Approximately 787,500 Australians had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes based on self-reports in the 2007–08 NHS. About 444,300 were males (56%) and 343,200 were females (44%). Around 92% of people with Type 2 diabetes were 45 years old or more and 45% were 65 years or older (Figure 7, Table A8).
Figure 7: Age distribution of people with Type 2 diabetes, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis age group (years).
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by sex and age
In 2007–08, approximately 3.8% of Australians had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The proportion of males with Type 2 diabetes (4.3%) was higher than for females (3.3%). The proportion of people who had Type 2 diabetes increased with increasing age from around 0.1% of those aged 0–34 years to 14.7% of 65-69 year olds. The proportion with Type 2 diabetes then decreased with increasing age to 12.4% of people aged 80 years or more 
(Figure 8, Table A8).
Figure 8: Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by age, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis age group (years).
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Number of people with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory
Of the 787,500 Australians with Type 2 diabetes, approximately 274,200 lived in New South Wales, 184,700 in Victoria and 154,000 in Queensland. About 68,900 lived in Western Australia and 68,800 in South Australia, 16,300 in Tasmania, 12,700 in the Northern Territory and 8,000 in the Australian Capital Territory (Figure 9, Table A10). 
Note that the 2007–08 ABS National Health Survey did not include very remote areas. The exclusion of these persons has only a minor impact on the estimates produced for individual states and territories, with the exception of the Northern Territory, where more than 1 in 5 people live in very remote areas. Estimates presented here for the Northern Territory also have a relative standard error of more than 25%, so they should be used with caution. For further information on relative standard errors see the Glossary.
Figure 9: Number and proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Map of Australia showing, Western Australia 68,900, 3.4%, Northern Territory 12,700, 7.7%,
Queensland 154,000, 3.8%, New South Wales 274,200, 4.0%, Australian Capital Territory 8,000, 2.4%, Tasmania 16,300, 3.4%, Victoria 184,700, 3.6%, South Australia 68,800, 4.4% and Australia 787,500, 3.8%.
Notes
1.	Numbers and percentages presented are not age-standardised.
2.	Percentages presented are as a proportion of the population in each state and territory.
3.	Northern Territory estimates have a relative standard error greater than 25% so should be used with caution.
4.	Northern Territory estimates are representative for only non-very-remote parts of the Northern Territory.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory
The proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes ranged from 2.4% in the ACT to 7.7% in the NT (Table A10). The proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes did not differ significantly from the national average for any state or territory, except for the ACT which was lower (Figure 10). However, after adjusting for differences in age, the difference between the ACT and Australia was also not statistically significant. This indicates that the difference between the ACT and Australia is due, at least in part, to the fact that people living in the ACT are slightly younger on average.

Figure 10: Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis state, territory and Australia.
Note: Proportions shown are not age-standardised. 
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by remoteness
Of the 787,500 Australians with Type 2 diabetes, approximately 63% lived in Australia’s major cities (495,800), 25% in inner regional areas (193,400) and 12% in outer regional or remote areas (98,400) (Table A11). Note that the 2007–08 ABS National Health Survey did not include very remote areas. See ‘Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas’ in the Glossary for an explanation of the remoteness area categories.
The proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes was similar across regions—3.5% in major cities, 4.4% in inner regional areas and 4.5% in outer regional or remote areas (Figure 11).
Figure 11: Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by remoteness, Australia, 2007–08
Vertical bar chart showing, on the y-axis per cent and on the x-axis major cities, inner regional, outer regional & remote, and Australia.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Appendix: Detailed statistical tables
Note that columns and rows in tables may not add to the totals presented due to rounding.
Table A1: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by sex and type of diabetes, Australia, 2007–08
 	Males		Females		Persons	
Type of diabetes	Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)	
Type 1 diabetes	45,800	9.1	0.4		41,300	10.4	0.4		87,100	9.7	0.4	
Type 2 diabetes	444,300	88.6	4.3		343,200	86.3	3.3		787,500	87.6	3.8	
Total diabetes(b)	501,300	100.0	4.9		397,500	100.0	3.8		898,800	100.0	4.4	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	Total includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A2: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by age, Australia, 2007–08
Age group (years)	Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)	
0–34	32,600	3.6	0.3	
35–39	32,900	3.7	2.1	
40–44	43,400	4.8	2.9	
45–49	64,600	7.2	4.3	
50–54	80,300	8.9	5.8	
55–59	133,400	14.8	10.7	
60–64	125,000	13.9	11.4	
65–69	127,100	14.1	15.8	
70–74	94,300	10.5	14.8	
75–79	76,500	8.5	14.5	
80 and over	88,800	9.9	14.1	
All ages(b)	898,800	100.0	4.4	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	Total includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Table A3: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by sex and age, Australia, 2007–08
 	Males		Females	
Age group (years)	Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)	
0–44 	50,400	10.1	0.8		58,400	14.7	0.9	
45–49	27,600	5.5	3.7		37,000	9.3	4.8	
50–54	51,900	10.4	7.6		28,400	7.1	4.1	
55–59	71,000	14.2	11.5		62,500	15.7	9.9	
60–64	84,500	16.9	15.2		40,500	10.2	7.5	
65–69	84,600	16.9	21.2		42,500	10.7	10.4	
70–74	60,200	12.0	19.6		34,100	8.6	10.3	
75–79	40,100	8.0	16.3		36,400	9.2	12.9	
80 and over 	31,000	6.2	12.0		57,900	14.6	15.5	
All ages(b)	501,300	100.0	4.9		397,500	100.0	3.8	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	Total includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A4: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by state and territory, Australia, 2007–08
 	Males		Females		Persons	
State of usual residence	Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)	95% CI	
New South Wales 	165,500	33.0	4.9		141,700	35.6	4.1		307,200	34.2	4.5	3.8–5.2	
Victoria 	112,700	22.5	4.4		95,300	24.0	3.7		208,000	23.1	4.0	3.2–4.9	
Queensland 	105,000	20.9	5.1		73,900	18.6	3.6		178,900	19.9	4.4	3.7–5.0	
Western Australia 	54,200	10.8	5.2		23,700	6.0	2.3		77,900	8.7	3.8	2.9–4.7	
South Australia 	37,500	7.5	4.9		42,900	10.8	5.5		80,400	8.9	5.2	4.2–6.2	
Tasmania 	11,200	2.2	4.7		7,900	2.0	3.2		19,100	2.1	4.0	3.0–4.9	
Australian Capital Territory 	5,200	1.0	3.2		4,800	1.2	2.9		10,000	1.1	3.0	2.2–3.8	
Northern Territory(b) 	*10,000	*2.0	*11.7		*7,400	*1.9	*9.4		*17,400	*1.9	*10.6	4.6–16.5	
Australia(c)	501,300	100.0	4.9		397,500	100.0	3.8		898,800	100.0	4.4	4.0–4.7	
* The RSE for this estimate is between 25 and 50% and should be treated with caution.
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	Northern Territory estimates are only representative of non-very-remote parts of the Northern Territory because the 2007–08 National Health Survey sample excluded persons living in very remote areas. 
Such people account for over one-fifth of the population in the Northern Territory.
(c)	Total diabetes includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A5: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by remoteness(b), 2007–08
 	Males		Females		Persons	
Remoteness area	Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with diabetes in the population (%)	95% CI	
Major cities	302,100	60.3	4.3		255,600	64.3	3.6		557,700	62.1	4.0	3.5–4.4	
Inner regional	130,400	26.0	6.0		100,300	25.2	4.5		230,700	25.7	5.2	4.4–6.1	
Outer regional and remote(b)	68,800	13.7	6.2		41,600	10.5	3.9		110,400	12.3	5.1	4.2–5.9	
Australia	501,300	100.0	4.9		397,500	100.0	3.8		898,800	100.0	4.4	4.6–5.5	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	The ABS National Health Survey excluded persons living in very remote areas of Australia.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Table A6: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 1 diabetes, by age, Australia, 2007–08
Age group (years)	Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 1 diabetes in the population (%)	
0–44	40,600	46.7	0.3	
45 and over	46,500	53.3	0.6	
Total	87,100	100.0	0.4	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A7: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 1 diabetes, by remoteness(b), 2007–08
Remoteness area	Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 1 diabetes in the population (%)	
Major cities	54,200	62.2	0.4	
Inner regional, outer regional, remote(b)	32,900	37.8	0.5	
Australia	87,100	100.0	0.4	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	The 2007–08 ABS National Health Survey excluded persons living in very remote areas of Australia.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Table A8: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 2 diabetes, by age, Australia, 2007–08
Age group (years)	Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the population (%)	
0–34	*9,200	*1.2	*0.1	
35–39	26,600	3.4	1.7	
40–44	27,500	3.5	1.8	
45–49	54,600	6.9	3.6	
50–54	75,900	9.6	5.5	
55–59	124,200	15.8	9.9	
60–64	115,000	14.6	10.5	
65–69	118,500	15.1	14.7	
70–74	87,200	11.1	13.7	
75–79	70,800	9.0	13.4	
80 and over	78,100	9.9	12.4	
Total	787,500	100.0	3.8	
* The RSE for this estimate is between 25 and 50% and should be treated with caution.
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A9: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 2 diabetes, by sex and age, Australia, 2007–08
 	Males		Females	
Age group (years)	Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the 
population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the population (%)	
0–49	53,200	12.0	0.7		64,600	18.8	0.9	
50–54	47,900	10.8	7.0		28,000	8.2	4.0	
55–59	64,000	14.4	10.4		60,200	17.5	9.5	
60–64	79,500	17.9	14.4		35,500	10.3	6.6	
65–69	81,200	18.3	20.4		37,300	10.9	9.2	
70–74	55,900	12.6	18.2		31,300	9.1	9.5	
75 and over	62,700	14.1	12.4		86,200	25.1	13.2	
Total	444,300	100.0	4.3		343,200	100.0	3.3	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Table A10: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 2 diabetes, by state and territory, Australia, 2007–08
State of usual residence	Number 	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the population (%)	95% CI	
New South Wales 	274,200	34.8	4.0	3.3–4.7	
Victoria 	184,700	23.5	3.6	2.8–4.4	
Queensland 	154,000	19.6	3.8	3.1–4.4	
Western Australia 	68,900	8.8	3.4	2.5–4.2	
South Australia 	68,800	8.7	4.4	3.6–5.3	
Tasmania 	16,300	2.1	3.4	2.5–4.2	
Australian Capital Territory 	8,000	1.0	2.4	1.7–3.1	
Northern Territory(b)	*12,700	*1.6	*7.7	2.1–13.4	
Australia	787,500	100.0	3.8	3.5–4.2	
* The RSE for this estimate is between 25 and 50% and should be treated with caution.
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	Northern Territory estimates are only representative of non-very-remote parts of the Northern Territory because the 2007–08 National 
Health Survey sample excluded persons living in very remote areas. Such people account for over one-fifth of the population in the Northern Territory.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Table A11: People ever diagnosed(a) with Type 2 diabetes, by remoteness(b), 2007–08
 	Males		Females		Persons	
Remoteness area	Number	Per cent	Proportion with
Type 2 diabetes
 in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the population (%)		Number	Per cent	Proportion with Type 2 diabetes in the population (%)	95% CI	
Major cities	273,900	61.7	3.9		221,800	64.6	3.1		495,800	63.0	3.5	3.2–3.9	
Inner regional	106,400	23.9	4.9		87,000	25.3	3.9		193,400	24.6	4.4	3.5–5.2	
Outer regional and remote(b)	64,000	14.4	5.7		34,400	10.0	3.2		98,400	12.5	4.5	3.6–5.4	
Australia	444,300	100.0	4.3		343,200	100.0	3.3		787,500	100.0	3.8	4.1–4.9	
(a)	Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b)	The ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey excluded persons living in very remote areas of Australia.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 NHS Confidentialised Unit Record File.
Glossary
Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas: The ASGC RA classification is based on the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA). ARIA is derived from the distance a place is by road from urban centres of different sizes, so it provides a relative indication of how difficult it might be for residents to access certain services such as health care and education. Three categories are used in this publication: ‘Major cities of Australia’, ‘Inner regional Australia’ and ‘Outer regional or Remote Australia’ (which is a combination of Outer regional and Remote Australia). Very remote Australia was not included in the scope of the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey. A map showing the five regions is provided below in Figure G.1. Examples of a Major city are Sydney and Canberra; Inner regional: Hobart, Mackay, Gundagai; Outer regional: Darwin, Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie; Remote: Alice Springs, Blinman; Very remote: Wilcannia, Thursday Island.
Figure G.1: Australia by ASGC Remoteness Areas, 2006
Map of Australia showing ASGC remoteness areas.
Source: ABS.
Confidence interval for estimates (number and ratio): The 95% confidence interval around the number estimates (X) or proportion estimates (P) was calculated as follows:
UCL = X + 1.96 × SE(X)
LCL = X - 1.96 × SE(X)
UCL = P + 1.96 × SE(X/Y)
LCL = P - 1.96 × SE(X/Y)
Where UCL = upper confidence limit
LCL = lower confidence limit
SE = standard error
X = sub-population with the characteristic of interest (e.g. diabetes)
Y = total population of interest
Diabetes: A chronic condition in which the body cannot properly use its main energy source, the sugar glucose. This is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin or the body being unable to effectively use the insulin produced. Insulin helps glucose enter the body’s cells from the bloodstream and then to be processed by them. Diabetes is marked by an abnormal build-up of glucose in the blood and it can have serious short-term and long-term effects on many of the body’s systems, especially the blood vessels and nerves.
Type 1 diabetes: A form of diabetes marked by a complete lack of insulin and needing insulin replacement for survival. This form of diabetes mostly arises in childhood or in young adults, but it can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetes: The most common form of diabetes, which is marked by reduced or less effective insulin. Some cases may be managed with changes to diet along with increased exercise and weight loss. Many require drugs as well—namely oral glucose-lowering drugs that work on the pancreas. Many others require insulin in addition to other treatments.
Prevalence: The number or proportion (of cases, instances, and so on) present in a population at a given time. The prevalence rate in this report is calculated by dividing the number of people with the disease by the average population in the same reference period.
Standard error (SE): One measure of the sampling error for a survey is given by the standard error, which indicates the degree to which an estimate varies from the value that would have been obtained from a full enumeration (the ‘true’ value). There are about nineteen chances in twenty (95%) that a sample estimate differs from the true value by less than two standard errors for samples with normal distribution and a sufficiently large sample.
Relative standard error (RSE): The relative standard error is obtained by expressing the SE as a percentage of the estimate. The RSE provides an indication of the percentage errors likely to have occurred due to sampling. Only estimates with RSEs less than 25% are considered sufficiently reliable for most purposes. Estimates with RSEs between 25% and less than 50% should be used with caution. Estimates with RSEs of 50% or more are considered too unreliable for most purposes.
Statistical significance: Variation or difference in observed values or rates may only reflect a random variation or difference. To assess whether differences in values of rates are statistically significant—that is, that they are not due to chance alone—95% confidence intervals around the rates have been used in this analysis. A difference between rates or values was considered as statistically significant when the confidence intervals around the values or rates did not overlap.
List of tables
Table A1:	People ever diagnosed with diabetes, by sex and type of diabetes, 
Australia, 2007–08
Table A2:	People ever diagnosed with diabetes, by age, 2007–08
Table A3:	People ever diagnosed with diabetes, by sex and age, 2007–08
Table A4:	People ever diagnosed with diabetes, by state and territory, 2007–08
Table A5:	People ever diagnosed with diabetes, by remoteness, 2007–08
Table A6:	People ever diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, by age, 2007–08
Table A7:	People ever diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, by remoteness, 2007–08
Table A8:	People ever diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by age, 2007–08
Table A9:	People ever diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by sex and age, 2007–08
Table A10:	People ever diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by state and territory, 2007–08
Table A11:	People ever diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by remoteness, 2007–08
List of figures
Figure 1:	Number of people with diagnosed diabetes by type of diabetes, 2007–08
Figure 2:	Age distribution of people with diabetes, 2007–08
Figure 3:	Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by age, 2007–08
Figure 4:	Number and proportion of people with diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Figure 5:	Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Figure 6:	Proportion diagnosed with diabetes by remoteness, 2007-08
Figure 7:	Age distribution of people with Type 2 diabetes, 2007–08
Figure 8:	Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, by age, 2007–08
Figure 9:	Number and proportion of people with Type 2 diabetes by 
state and territory, 2007–08
Figure 10:	Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by state and territory, 2007–08
Figure 11:	Proportion diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by remoteness, 2007–08
Figure G.1:	Australia by ASGC Remoteness Areas, 2006