DIABETES (E10-E14)
Diabetes is a disorder caused by the inability of the body to control the amount of sugar in the blood. If left untreated, diabetes can severely damage organs in the body. Diabetes (E10-E14) was the underlying cause for 4,170 (3.0%) deaths registered in Australia in 2009. Diabetes contributed to 14,286 (10.1%) deaths as either an underlying or associated cause of death.
The standardised death rate for diabetes was 17.1 per 100,000 population in 2009, an increase from 16.0 per 100,000 population in 2000. The standardised death rate for males in 2009 was 20.6 per 100,000, and 14.2 per 100,000 for females.
Median age at death due to diabetes was 78.5 years for males, 83.3 years for females and 80.9 years overall. Potential life lost through death due to diabetes was 12,576 years for males and 7,128 years for females.
Type II diabetes (E11, non-insulin dependent diabetes) accounted for 1,772 deaths, or 42.5% of all diabetes deaths. This particular type of diabetes was predominant in the 70-94 years age group. Of all deaths due to non-insulin dependent diabetes, 76.8% of males and 79.7% of females were aged 70-94 years.