New data shows that diabetes prevalence rates are continuing to grow at a concerning rate.
According to Diabetes Victoria, which celebrates its 70th anniversary, in the last 15 years, the number of Victorians living with the chronic condition has almost doubled.
Worryingly, the organisation says the number of those living with diabetes is expected to break through the 400,000 mark in 2023.
“We know almost 32,000 Victorians were diagnosed with diabetes in the last year alone, so we expect to bypass the 400,000 mark later this year,” says Diabetes Victoria CEO, Glen Noonan.
“This is such a significant number of people who are living every day, 24 hours a day with this complex condition and we know the only answer to ensure a brighter future for people is by working together across the committed diabetes community.”
Now is the time to create a brighter future for people living with, or at risk of diabetes, says Mr Noonan, as the growth of the condition across the country is not slowing.
The impact of ‘silent diabetes’
Added to these prevalence rates is the fact that many people in the community may have developed diabetes but may not be aware of this yet.
“There are many people out there in the community who have developed diabetes but do not know it yet – so-called ‘silent diabetes’,” says Mr Noonan.
This means that the estimated diabetes prevalence figures in Victoria may be higher as, according to Diabetes Victoria, it can take several years for a person with type 2 diabetes to receive a diagnosis.
‘Entire diabetes community needs to come together’
With the growing prevalence of diabetes within the Victorian community, Mr Noonan says that the entire diabetes community needs to work together to tackle and solve this issue.
“With all the challenges and the complexity of living in our community and the growing prevalence of diabetes it will take the entire diabetes community and all the skills and capabilities to come together – no one group alone can solve this,” he says.
“As we celebrate 70 years of our organisation working with the diabetes community, we are sure those people who started Diabetes Victoria in 1953 would have hoped we were no longer needed in 2023.
“However, the unfortunate truth is we are needed more than ever. We believe everyone in the Victorian diabetes community deserves to have a future where less people are diagnosed with diabetes, where the condition is less of a burden on people living with diabetes, where diabetes causes less complications and where we do achieve a cure.
“We are looking to be ambitious and bold to pursue this bright future. A future with goals and plans to improve the management of diabetes, to provide effective and early interventions to reduce avoidable complications and that help people live long and healthy lives, and importantly a future where people can live more confident lives without stigma and discrimination.
“We want to see a world where breakthroughs in new treatments and care are made available to all people, regardless of their socio-economic status.
“I am convinced that to achieve this requires a massive step change in many aspects – including how diabetes is understood, how it is funded by government and industry and how diabetes care is provided within the health system,” says My Noonan.
To learn more about Diabetes Victoria, visit: diabetesvic.org.au.
