KEY POINTS:
The potential effect of rising diabetes numbers is staggering, says a new report, recommending urgent action.
The Diabetes New Zealand report makes recommendations to the Government and paints a grim picture of the growing worldwide pandemic of Types 1 and 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, the predominant strain in children, is a genetic condition which reduces and destroys the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, and is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors which damage the insulin producing cells. Obesity and excess weight accelerate the damage.
The report said more than 157,000 people in New Zealand have diabetes. Of these, 142,000 have Type 2.
It is estimated there are another 80,000 who have Type 2 diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed, and a further 400,000 who have elevated blood glucose levels, and are therefore at risk of becoming diabetic.
The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise at 3 to 4 per cent a year.
A recent community health programme survey found more than half the population of Counties Manukau was at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes New Zealand president Mike Smith said figures for Type 1 diabetes were also rising at an "alarming rate".
There were 15,000 diagnosed and about 10,000 of them were young people. "These figures are not new but the impact of these numbers remain staggering."
Mr Smith said diabetes was a pandemic disease.
"It is estimated to affect over 200 million people worldwide and this number is projected to almost double by 2025."
He said diabetes had the potential to cripple New Zealand's stretched health systems in a few years.
"We all know there is a problem and what we are doing with this report is providing some markers and some potential solutions."
He said "serious and integrated action" was required from the Government.
"We have identified five priorities for action _ awareness, prevention, detection, management and research," said Mr Smith.
"Two of the core messages in this report are that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and that collaboration across sectors and groups is essential to halt the diabetes epidemic."
The organisation also wants to see better policies and support for people with Type 1 diabetes.
"The health and social needs of people with Type 1 diabetes have been overlooked for too long.
"We want to see a national register for people with Type 1 diabetes and an improvement in their long-term management."
- NZPA
