One in 15 Australian adults living with diabetes: ABS

Adult diabetes diagnoses are on the rise in Australia, with one in 15 adults (6.6%) currently living with the condition compared to one in 20 adults (5.1%) just 10 years ago.
 
That is according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released on Monday, which also revealed a further 2.7% of adults are at high risk of diabetes.
 
However, the ABS states ‘it is not possible to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes’ within its data, gathered as part of the National Health Measures Survey 2022–24.
 
For males, it found 2.4% aged 18–44 had diabetes, 10.3% of those aged 45–64, and 16.9% of those aged 65 and above.
 
In females, 0.9% aged 18–44 had the condition, 6.0% of those aged 45–64, and 10.5% of those aged 65 or older.
 
Additionally, adults who live in areas of most disadvantage are more likely to have diabetes than those in areas of least disadvantage (9.3% compared to 3.5%).
 
This rise in diabetes diagnoses comes after a landmark report released last year made 23 recommendations to address the ‘diabetes epidemic’, such as longer appointments subsidised by the MBS, greater access to telehealth, and greater support for rural patients.
 
Last year, the RACGP also launched a new edition of the Management of type 2 diabetes: A handbook for general practice which includes a number of changes and takes into account recent developments in the evidence supporting lifestyle choices for people living with diabetes.
 
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