Pharmacy Daily | Gen Y become Gen Diabetes

THE national health agenda needs a far greater emphasis on diabetes, according to the Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, Diabetes Australia and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The call comes as the trio prepares to present the results of a new joint national diabetes assessment to Parliament, Diabetes: the silent pandemic and its impact on Australia, which forecasts “a legacy of pandemic proportions” could be coming Australia’s way, with one-in-three of today’s Gen Y’s set join the ranks of ‘Generation Diabetes’ in their lifetime. The report provides evidence that by 2025 type 2 diabetes will triple in prevalence and will affect three million Australians. “A tragic prediction, especially given that type 2 diabetes is preventable in a substantial proportion of people,” a statement from the report’s authors said. The report also found a continuing rise in the occurrence of type 1 diabetes, particularly in young children aged 0-4 years, but did not pinpoint a reason for the rise. “Prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Australia is one of the highest in the world,” the authors said. To hinder the progress of this growing epidemic, the trio are asking the Government for a re-commitment to the development of a formal national action plan, in keeping with the United Nations Resolution no. 61/225 on diabetes (a plan which recommends countries review and strengthen critical activities to contain the growth and burden of the disease). “Time is of the essence because unlike other developed nations, despite agreeing with these global recommendations, Australia has failed to take comprehensive action and implement change,” said Lewis Kaplan, CEO, Diabetes Australia. Meanwhile, the report’s lead author, Baker IDI’s Associate Professor Jonathan Shaw, said “The battle against diabetes requires concerted efforts on a number of fronts - strategies to slow down the rapidly rising number of those developing the disease and ensuring those living with diabetes are able to manage this insidious condition effectively. “We must also do everything we can to fully understand diabetes via research,” he added. The report highlights four priority areas for the Government to look at, including: focused, timely and integrated action - to ensure national diabetes strategies are reviewed and strengthened to reflect Australian commitments to the UN’s resolution; as well as changes in policy, legislation and attitudes - to provide an environment where healthy lifestyle choices can and will be made. The last two priority areas include access to and availability of info, technologies and proven treatments for every person with diabetes, irrespective of their socio-economic background; and collaborative efforts that ensure research remains at the forefront of effort to find a cure.

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