In celebration of World Diabetes Day, the Australian government has released a new national strategy to address diabetes, which is emerging as a major chronic illness for patients and a threat to the health of the economy.

The Australian National Diabetes Strategy serves as a blueprint for improving the prevention, care and management of diabetes to the end of the decade, according to Health Minister Sussan Ley.

In Australia, more than one million individuals, or five per cent of adults, are living with diabetes, Ley reports. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 85 per cent of Australians with diabetes, while approximately 12 per cent with diabetes are diagnosed with type 1. Ley also notes that around 12 to 14 per cent of pregnant women will develop Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, which usually disappears following the birth of the baby but puts women at risk of subsequently developing diabetes.

While diabetes can lead to complications such as heart attack, stroke, amputation, blindness, kidney failure, depression and nerve disease, Ley says the disease is preventable in many cases. “For this reason, the emphasis of the strategy is on prevention, early diagnosis, intervention, management and treatment, centred on the role of primary care,” she notes.

Since a growing number of people with diabetes also had other chronic diseases, known as co-morbidities, a key theme of the strategy was to provide a seamless partnership between people with diabetes and their health and community care providers. “This will be enhanced by the work being undertaken by the Government’s Primary Healthcare Advisory Group and broader National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions,” she says.

Under this strategy, Australians will be better informed about diabetes so they can make better decisions, according to Ley. In addition, research and evidence will strengthen prevention and care and, hopefully, move us that much closer to a cure for diabetes.

The Australian government currently provides support to people with diabetes through Medicare and a range of programs. Ley says this new strategy will not replace or override existing processes, and seeks to better coordinate health resources across the sector to where they are needed most.

Healthy eating is the theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day, as this is considered a key factor in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes, as well as an important part of the effective management of all types of diabetes to avoid complications.

In support of this theme, the Australian government announced last week the launch of the Healthy Food Partnership, a new collaboration of preventative health groups, food industry bodies and government to cooperatively tackle obesity and encourage healthy eating. Rural Health Minister Fiona Nash chaired a historic first meeting of the program on Nov. 13, to agree on strategies to reformulate food, increase the eating of fresh fruit and vegetables and increase consumer awareness about portion sizes.

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