Diabetes ignorance high among Australians
15th Jul 2013
Byron Kaye and AAP all articles by this author
ALMOST 80% of Australians think they are not in danger of getting diabetes even though more than 10% already have pre-diabetes or are at high risk, Diabetes Australia says.
And, according to Medibank, 97% of the population do not even know the major symptoms of diabetes even though it has been labelled the type 2 diabetes could be slowed by exercising and improving diet. Australian Medicare Local Alliance chair Dr Arn Sprogis said both sides of politics must commit to introducing – via Medicare Locals – national standards and programs for diabetes self-management education and support. The Australian Diabetes Council said diabetes may loom as an election issue, with its own figures showing it had become “entrenched” in key electoral battleground Western Sydney. It said 40% of adult Australians with diabetes lived in NSW, of whom the highest concentration lived in Western Sydney. Liverpool was by far the state’s number one diabetes postcode, with 6271 people with the condition, followed by Mount Druitt with 4800 and Campbelltown with 4668. “With seven of the top 10 diabetes postcodes all based in Western Sydney, where many say the federal election may be lost or won, this should be of concern for federal representatives,” Australian Diabetes Council CEO Nicola Stokes said. 
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