Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Australian children, 2008

Type 1 diabetes is a serious, life-long disease which causes a major health, social and economic burden for individuals with the disease, their families and the community. Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Australian children, 2008 presents for the first time estimates of the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children aged 0-14 years in 2008, based on Australia's National Diabetes Register data. In 2008, it is estimated that over 5,700 children aged 0-14 years had Type 1 diabetes in Australia. The prevalence rate increased with age and varied by state and territory. Assuming that new cases of Type 1 diabetes in 0-14 year old children continue increasing at the rate observed between 2000 and 2008, it is estimated that the prevalence rate will increase by 10% between 2008 and 2013.