One in 15 Australian adults is now living with diabetes, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS National Health Measures Survey, published this week, also included details on the number of Australians showing signs of kidney disease, vitamin D deficiencies and other potential chronic illnesses.
A total 6.6 per cent of Australians over the age of 18 have diabetes — an increase of 1.5 per cent when compared to a decade ago.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to produce insulin and control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not make enough insulin.
Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself.
The survey did not distinguish between type 1 and type 2.
Australians aged 18 years and over with diabetes by sex, 2022–24
Between 2000 and 2021, the number of people living with diabetes in Australia increased to 1.3 million, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Men were more likely to have diabetes than women, ABS head of health statistics James Mowle said.
“And adults living in the most disadvantaged areas are more likely to have diabetes than those in the least disadvantaged areas,” he said.
Diabetes a ‘growing epidemic’ for Australians
The latest numbers were calculated based on the two tests available to measure diabetes, and did not include those with gestational diabetes.
A further 2.7 per cent of adults were at a high risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes prevalence by diagnosis test type
Source: ABS / Get the data
Diabetes Australia chief executive Justine Cain told the ABC the organisation estimated approximately 500,000 people were living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes nationwide.
“This is a growing epidemic that is showing no signs of abating,” she said.
“And we know that there are more than 300 people a day now being diagnosed with diabetes.”
The National Health Measures Survey listed a number of health risk factors including a high body mass index, a larger waist circumference, smoking and high blood pressure.
According to the survey, people with known or newly diagnosed diabetes were more likely than people without the condition to have two or three of those health risk factors.
Number of health risk factors reported by diabetes status, 2022-24
However 88.9 per cent of people with diabetes were non-smokers, and 70.5 per cent had a normal blood pressure.
This was in line with the goals for diabetes management set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Almost half of those diagnosed were also meeting targets for blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels.
Proportion of people with diabetes by age and test type, 2022-24
Ms Cain said while 58 per cent of type 2 diabetes cases could be delayed or prevented through changes to diet and lifestyle, “about 42 per cent is not preventable and relates to genetics”.
“So the really challenging thing here and the really important thing that I want to get across is that nobody chooses diabetes,” she said.
“We absolutely need to remove the stigma that sits around a diabetes diagnosis … and make sure that anyone who is at risk of diabetes is confident to come forward and get the support that they need.
“Nobody chooses diabetes, and we have a real issue in this country around stigma and stigmatising language and behaviour around diabetes.”
“If that isn’t happening, we aren’t going to get the outcomes that we need because people aren’t feeling comfortable to come forward [and] the conversations aren’t being had.”
High cholesterol and vitamin D deficiencies in Australians
The ABS health survey also detailed a number of other health conditions faced by Australians nationwide.
Almost a third of adult Australians (30.2 per cent) have high cholesterol, according to the health survey, a decrease from 33.2 per cent compared to 2011-12.
A further 17.8 per cent had a cholesterol level “close to abnormal”.
Proportion of people with abnormally high cholesterol, 2022-24
Women were also more likely to have an abnormally high cholesterol level than men — 32.1 per cent compared to 28.2 per cent.
Only 9.2 per cent of those with an abnormally high cholesterol level self-reported it as a “current long-term health condition”.
On the other hand, 14.9 per cent had an abnormally low level of “good” cholesterol, also known as HDL.
Biomarkers of chronic disease over time, 2011-2024
Source: ABS / Get the data
HDL transports cholesterol in the blood and transports it to the liver to be broken down.
“Having abnormal HDL cholesterol levels may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke,” the report said.
One in five adults (20.6 per cent) have a vitamin D deficiency, however Mr Mowle said this number varied depending on the season.
Vitamin D deficiency in Australian adults by season and location
“Results showed 26.1 per cent of Australian adults are vitamin D deficient in winter, compared to 15.5 per cent in summer,” he said.
“We know that vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium effectively, which is important for bone health and muscle function.
“A severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to brittle and fragile bones.”
