Data sources

National (insulin-treated) Diabetes Register

The National (insulin-treated) Diabetes Register (NDR) collects information about people who began using insulin as part of their treatment for diabetes since 1999.

The register includes most people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes since this time, as well as those with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and other less common forms of diabetes who use insulin to manage their condition.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) maintains the NDR, which is derived from 2 primary data sources:

  • The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)
    Established in 1987, the NDSS is an initiative of the Australian Government, administered with the assistance of Diabetes Australia. People with a diagnosis of diabetes by a health professional can register with the scheme. Once registered, they can access diabetes self-management information, services, and subsidised products—such as pens and needles to administer insulin, blood glucose test strips, insulin pump consumables, and continuous glucose monitoring products.
  • Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (APEG) state-based registers
    The APEG is a professional body that represents health professionals involved in managing and researching disorders of the endocrine system, including diabetes in children and adolescents. The APEG maintains clinic-based state and territory diabetes registers of children.

The capture of insulin-treated diabetes on the NDR depends on the coverage of these 2 primary data sources.

For more information see the NDR data quality statement.