Better health and ageing for all Australians

Historical publications

Highlights of Government Support for Diabetes 1999 - The way forward

This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.

In this section:

Highlights of Government Support for Diabetes 1999
The report aims to inform those in service planning and provider roles of the types of activities being funded by Commonwealth and State/Territory governments.

>> Forward
>> Introduction
>> What is diabetes?
>> National focus
>> Management of specific complications
>> Groups with special needs
>> The way forward
>> Contacts

The way forward

Governments will continue to build on the significant work already undertaken at national, State and Territory level.

Future directions in diabetes will be shaped by the development and implementation of a National Diabetes Strategy, which will be considered by Health Ministers in July 1999.

The National Diabetes Strategy will be based on the results of consultation taken in the development of the National Diabetes Strategy and Implementation Plan report, and the diabetes National Health Priority Area report.

It will use the two reports as a platform from which Commonwealth, State and Territory governments can identify priorities and agree on an approach to diabetes prevention, management and research, in partnership with peak organisations and service providers.

Integral to this process will be consideration of the needs of populations who face additional issues in diabetes prevention and care, including indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people living in rural and remote areas, children and adolescents and older Australians.

The following goals of the National Diabetes Strategy are derived from the National Diabetes Strategy and Implementation Plan report and cover the continuum of diabetes care and the structure which underpins diabetes care.

  • Improve the capacity of the health system to deliver, manage and monitor services for the prevention of diabetes and the care of people with and at risk of diabetes.
  • Prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
  • Improve health-related quality of life and reduce complications and premature mortality in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
  • Achieve maternal and child outcomes for gestational diabetes and for women with pre-existing diabetes equivalent to those of non-diabetic pregnancies.
  • Advance knowledge and understanding about the prevention, cure and care of type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.