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Canberra, March 31 (IANS) – A concerning trend has emerged in Australia, with the proportion of adults living with diabetes climbing significantly over the past decade. Newly released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates a substantial increase in diabetes prevalence.
The ABS, on Monday, unveiled the initial findings from its National Health Measures Survey (NHMS), conducted between 2022 and 2024. The survey reveals that 6.6 percent of Australian adults now have diabetes, a notable rise from 5.1 percent recorded in 2011-12. This represents a 29.4 percent increase in the prevalence of diabetes among adults in just 12 years.
The NHMS, which involved collecting biomedical samples from participants aged five years and older nationwide, also highlighted that an additional 2.7 percent of Australian adults are at a high risk of developing diabetes.
The data further indicates a disparity between genders, with males being more likely to have diabetes than females across all age groups. “Adults living in the most disadvantaged areas are more likely to have diabetes than those in the least disadvantaged areas,” stated James Mowles, ABS head of health statistics, in a press release.
This Australian trend aligns with global concerns. A World Health Organisation (WHO)-supported study, published in The Lancet in November 2024, reported a global diabetes prevalence increase from 7 percent to 14 percent between 1990 and 2022. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the increase as “alarming” and urged countries to take immediate action to control the “global diabetes epidemic.”
A separate report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in December 2023 estimated that 5.1 percent of Australians, or over 1.3 million people, were living with diagnosed diabetes in 2021. The AIHW report also noted that the number of people with diabetes in Australia had nearly tripled between 2000 and 2021.
According to the WHO, approximately 830 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, with a majority residing in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, over half of these individuals are not receiving treatment, contributing to a steady rise in both diagnosed and untreated cases globally.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the World Health Organisation. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to their health or treatment.(https://tennews.in/proportion-of-australian-adults-with-diabetes-rises-to-6-6-pc/)
