MEDIA RELEASE
16 September 2011	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	114/2011

Around 1 in 25 Australians have diabetes, according to an article released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This is up from 1 in 40 in 1995.

Men are one and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than women. Rates go up with age for both sexes, showing a marked increase from around the age of 45 years. People who were obese were around twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes as those in other weight ranges.

Diabetes was ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in Australia in 2009. As either an underlying or associated cause of death, diabetes contributed to almost 14,300 deaths (10% of total deaths).

People living in the most disadvantaged areas were more than twice as likely to have diabetes as those in the least disadvantaged areas.

Over 35,500 people reported high glucose levels (pre-diabetes). Without some lifestyle modifications, these people have a high risk of developing diabetes.

Just over 96,200 Australians have a disability primarily caused by diabetes, and 2 in 5 people with diabetes perceived their general health as only fair or poor.

Around two-thirds (67%) of people with diabetes regularly tested their blood glucose levels; three quarters actively changed their diets; and around a quarter reported that they exercised most days specifically to help manage their condition. One in five people with diabetes used insulin (21%).

More details are available in Diabetes in Australia, a Snapshot (cat. no. 4820.0.55.001).

Media note:
When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.

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