Better management needed
December 7, 2012
YOUNG Australians are not
managing their diabetes
appropriately, according to a new
report by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare.
The report, titled Diabetes among
young Australians, looked at the
31,300 young Australians (aged 0-
30 years) with diabetes registered
on the National Diabetes Scheme,
and in particular how they managed
their condition, their use of health
services and the diabetes-related
health problems they experienced.
According to the findings, young
Australians aged between 19 and
24 with both Type 1 and Type 2
diabetes may not be managing
their condition as well as possible,
with rates of purchase of blood
glucose test strips dipping below
the daily requirements for testing.
This, according to the AIHW
suggests that this group of
diabetics “are not monitoring their
diabetes as well as others”.
The good news however, is that
researchers found that enough
blood glucose testing strips were
bought for children with Type 1
diabetes aged 0-11 years to meet
recommended daily testing levels.
“Similarly, people with Type 1
diabetes using an insulin pump
generally purchased enough testing
strips,” said AIHW spokesperson
Susana Senes.
Meanwhile, looking at diabetic
complications, the researchers
found that in 2009-10, there were
around 15,500 diabetes-related
hospitalisations.
In particular, children aged 0-11
had the highest rate of
hospitalisation for Type 1 diabetes
but these were mainly for
stabilising diabetes, being
diagnosed with diabetes or for the
fitting of an insulin pump.
Overall, diabetics under the age
of 25 were more likely than those
in the older 25-30 bracket, to be
hospitalised for acute diabetesrelated
complications, such as
ketoacidosis (a condition caused by
very high blood glucose levels).
Worryingly, researchers noted
that instances of ketoacidosis were
on the rise in young diabetics.
This increase has been linked, for
the most part, to non-compliance
with medical treatment among
those aged 12-18, and to a lesser
extent in those aged 19-24.
“Although uncommon, long-term
complications of diabetes are also
occurring in young Australians,”
Senes said.
“Some young people aged 19-30
are already experiencing serious but
preventable long-term complications
of diabetes, including nerve
damage, foot ulcers, eye and
kidney disease.
“In 2009-10, among people with
Type 1 diabetes aged 25-30, there
were 58 hospitalisations for longterm
complications of diabetes per
1,000 women and 32 per 1,000
men,” she added.
In terms of mortality rates, the
researchers found that diabetes
was the primary cause of death for
88 Australian youth between 2001
and 2007, and was an associated
cause for a further 76.
Most of these deaths were in
people aged 25-30.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 07 Dec 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 07 Dec 12