Trends over time
Between 2003 and 2018, there was a 24% increase in non-fatal burden, from 1.9 years lived with disability (YLD) per 1,000 to 2.3 YLD per 1,000 in 2018. However, there was a 24% decrease in the rate of fatal burden from years of life lost (YLL) for the same time period (2.0 per 1,000 and 1.3 per 1,000 population, respectively).
Variations between population groups
The overall burden of type 2 diabetes was higher among those living in lower socioeconomic areas and in Remote and very remote areas. In 2018, after adjusting for different population age structures:
- Rates in Remote and very remote areas were 2 times as high as Major cities.
- Rates were 2.4 times as high as those living in the lowest socioeconomic group compared with those living in the highest socioeconomic area (Figure 4).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In 2018, type 2 diabetes was responsible for around 7,000 DALY among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia – equating to 8.4 DALY per 1,000 population.
The proportion attributed to fatal burden (46% or 3,000 YLL) was slightly lower than that attributed to the non-fatal burden (57% or 4,000 YLD).
Between 2003 and 2018, there was a 42% decrease in the age-standardised DALY per 1,000 attributed to type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (AIHW 2022).