Page 2471 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
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that the ACT government provides support to ACT public servants in being screened and tested for diabetes. I can assure her that we are absolutely committed to promoting testing for diabetes. As I think I said earlier, possibly commencing in early 2020, we will be working with Diabetes NSW & ACT to ensure that this occurs.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (10.55): I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the issue of diabetes in the ACT. I value the fact that Ms Lawder has brought this to the Assembly’s attention today. Ms Lawder, in her motion, has provided some statistics on diabetes in the ACT. Of particular importance is the issue of undiagnosed diabetes in the ACT, and the story she provided in her remarks underlines that issue.
The 2019 National Diabetes Week emphasised “it’s about time we all took the time” to learn more about the warning signs of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The campaign focused on raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of diabetes to increase earlier detection and promote action. It contained clear, punchy and easy to understand messaging to help people identify whether they may be at risk of diabetes.
This awareness raising and education are extremely important, as Australia-wide almost 300 people are diagnosed with diabetes each day, with many Australians living with type 2 diabetes for up to seven years before diagnosis. This is quite troubling, because if diagnosis is made too late people can experience very serious health risks like vision loss, kidney failure, amputation, heart attack and stroke. This can then lead to subsequent serious comorbidity and health problems and also has the potential to be life threatening to the individual who has not been diagnosed or who did not seek help earlier. The earlier that people are diagnosed, the earlier that health care can be targeted to help them live well and reduce any future complications.
Data also demonstrates early detection of diabetes can prevent hospitalisations, with an estimate that in New South Wales and the ACT almost 13,000 hospitalisations could have been prevented if people were identifying symptoms and seeking help, diagnosis and better management and care sooner. This demonstrates that delayed action on diabetes-related symptoms significantly impacts our hospitals, and there is a real opportunity to reduce the admissions burden we know they face.
It is also important to note that often when people present to hospital for undiagnosed or unmanaged diabetes they are then hospitalised for a lengthy amount of time. Recent data indicates that in New South Wales and the ACT diabetes complications accounted for more than 76,800 hospital bed days.
Lifestyle factors are also an extremely important consideration when looking to reduce the rate at which diabetes impacts people. This is a well-known issue and one that has received considerable press coverage. Unfortunately, obesity is inextricably linked to type 2 diabetes, so it is important that we look at ways to inspire people to improve their health and wellbeing. This is where it is also extremely important to promote healthy behaviours and physical education in our schools so that our children and future generations are better educated and informed on how to make healthy lifestyle choices. The government’s healthy weight initiative has specific targets towards meeting this goal. This has an important role in reducing the impacts of diabetes, along with other chronic diseases and illnesses.
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