Diabetes and heart disease rates on the rise in Australia

An increasing number of people in Australia are developing heart disease as a result of diabetes, it has been revealed.
New figures released by the Australian Diabetes Council (ADC), the nation’s largest diabetes charity, showed a direct link between the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular (CVD) across the New South Wales region.
Analysis of the latest population health surveys and newly released census data found areas with higher rates of diabetes also have some of the highest rates of CVD, with diabetics believed to be up to four times more likely to develop the disease than individuals without diabetes .
ADC chief Nicola Stokes said:”Our new data clearly shows the direct relationship between diabetes and heart disease in our regional towns and city 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 .
“Studies have shown that people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to be impacted by cardiovascular disease .”
She revealed that one person in Australia is now diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every five minutes, meaning approximately 290 Australians “are discovering every day that they have an incurable disease “. The diagnosis rate also makes diabetes Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease .
“The cost of type 2 diabetes at the moment is over AUD10.3 billion (GBP6.8 billion),” she continued. “But the reality of this situation is that if diabetes continues to grow at the rate it currently is, by 2030 it will consume the entire federal budget of this country.”