Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Type 2 Diabetes Costs in Australia - The Potential Impact of Changes in Diet, Physical Activity and Levels of Obesity

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterised by insulin insufficiency or resistance to its action, resulting in poor glycaemic control. The recent Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) estimated that close to one million (7.5%) Australian adults have diabetes mellitus (Dunstan et al 2001). Type 2 diabetes is the most common form comprising 85 to 90% of those with diabetes mellitus. The most recent cost estimates available suggest approximately $216.7 million in health system costs were attributable to Type 2 diabetes in 1993-94 (Mathers & Penm 1998). In a study of the burden of disease in Australia, diabetes mellitus was estimated to account for 5% of the total burden of disease and was the seventh leading cause of Australian deaths (Mathers, Vos & Stevenson 1999). In addition, complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney problems, and lower limb amputations, contribute significantly to the overall morbidity and mortality in Australia.

Prepared by Dr Geoffrey C Marks, Dr Terry Coyne and Glen Pang, Australian Food and Nutrition Monitoring Unit for Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
2001
ISBN: 0 642 82055 4

PDF printable version of Type 2 diabetes costs in Australia - the potential impact of changes in diet, physical activity and levels of obesity (PDF 114 KB)

For further information please phone the Population Health Division on 1800 020 103 (and ask for extension 8654) or email PHD Frontdesk.