15 November 2022
Monday was World Diabetes Day, a chronic disease nurses would be all too familiar with as almost 1.2 million hospitalisations were associated with diabetes in 2019–20, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). This figure represents 11% of all hospitalisations.
Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia; increasing at a faster rate than other chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. All types of diabetes are increasing in prevalence.
At the Lyell McEwin Hospital “one in four inpatients has diabetes at any one time,’’ says Brooke Frith, Nurse Unit Manager at the LMH Diabetes Centre.
NALHN’s Diabetes Education Centre is staffed by a team of endocrinologists, specialist nurses, dieticians, and other clinicians, who work together to provide a range of services tailored to the needs of individuals living with Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes, empowering them to manage their diabetes and live a better quality of life.
“The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) has a map you can view and shows people diagnosed with diabetes who are registered on the NDSS,’’ Ms Frith says.
“The map shows diabetes prevalence rates at the national, federal, state electorate, local government, primary health network, and postcode levels. If you type in the postcode, 5112, where we are located, it shows 9.8% prevalence of diabetes, we are actually well above the national average of 5.7%. So it’s quite prevalent on our doorstop.’’
Ms Frith says aside from genetics, lifestyle factors can play a large part in contributing to diabetes.
“People should make sure that they are eating and drinking well, exercising and screening regularly with their GP to detect diabetes early,’’ Ms Frith says.
“Often diabetes goes unnoticed and sometimes there are no symptoms. People go for many years having diabetes and not being aware.’’
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults, is a leading cause of kidney failure, remains the leading cause of preventable limb amputations (about 4,400 in Australia a year) and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes by up to four times.
It is also a cause of great stress, anxiety and burnout.
According to the AIHW National Mortality Database, in 2020, diabetes was the underlying cause of around 5,100 deaths. However, it contributed to around 17,500 deaths (10.8% of all deaths) when associated causes are included.
Diabetes Australia tells us that:
280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes
Around 1.8 million Australians have diabetes. This includes all types of diagnosed diabetes (1.4 million known and registered) as well as silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (up to 500,000 estimated)
More than 120,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year
For every person diagnosed with diabetes there is usually a family member or carer who also ‘lives with diabetes’ every day in a support role. This means that an estimated 2.4 million Australians are affected by diabetes every day
Total annual cost impact of diabetes in Australia estimated at $14.6 billion
“These statistics again highlight the importance of nurses and midwives in leading chronic disease management. We have been arguing for years how important these roles are, and the evidence really speaks for itself with linkages to reductions in hospital admissions and better patient outcomes. ” ANMF (SA Branch) Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“It was an absolute pleasure to meet Brooke and learn more about her position at the Lyell McEwin this week.”
For more information about diabetes generally visit diabetesaustralia.com.au.
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Helpline is 1800 637 700.
Sources:
World Health Organization
Diabetes Australia