THERE are more than 2200 Dubbo residents with diabetes, Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease.
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Diabetes Awareness Week, from July 8 to 14, has begun highlighting the growing impact the disease has on the community with one person diagnosed every five minutes.
A major focus of the week will be on heart health after new research released by Australian Diabetes Council has mapped a direct relationship between diabetes and Australia’s current biggest killer, heart disease.
Australian Diabetes Council Dubbo Branch president John Lampard said in the 23 years he has lived in the city he has seen the problem increase.
“The percentage of diabetes in Dubbo is about half-a-per cent higher (than the Australian average),” he said.
Dubbo is currently ranked as 41 in NSW on the list of the 131 local government areas in the state.
Broken Hill is rated at number one with a diabetes rate of slighty more than 10 per cent followed by Brewarrina at 9.22 per cent.
The areas of Bourke, Coonamble and Walgett have also rated in the top 10 areas of NSW with the highest rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
All of the top 10 areas where diabetes and cardiovascular disease rates are highest are in regional Australia.
Australian Diabetes Council CEO Nicola Stokes said the government and community must act together to curb the impact of the disease which has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent across NSW since the year 2000.
“An estimated 290 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes ever day” she said.
Australian Diabetes Council’s research based on the latest population health surveys and newly released census data, shows areas with higher rates of diabetes are also areas with some of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease.
“Our new data clearly shows the direct relationship between diabetes and heart disease in our towns and suburbs, showing the need to align services available in these areas, but also acting as a warning sign to each individual to pay attention to their own risks and health,” Ms Stokes said.
“While there is no cure for diabetes, up to 60 per cent of type 2 cases can be prevented by making some simple lifestyle changes.”