New research from the University of Sydney suggests that the number of Australians living with diabetes could be up to 35% higher than previous estimates, raising urgent concerns about the scale of this growing health crisis.
The study, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, used an advanced algorithm to analyze integrated health data from Medicare, hospital records, and pharmaceutical claims. The results indicate that over two million Australians may be living with diabetes, with many not currently included in the official diabetes registry.
Emma Cox, a PhD candidate at the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data and the study’s lead author, explained that the findings reveal a much larger and more diverse population affected by diabetes. She highlighted that older Australians, residents in remote areas, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are particularly underrepresented.
“This isn’t just about missing data, it’s a public health issue,” Cox said. “A significant number of Australians are not accounted for in national statistics, making it more difficult to plan health services, allocate funding, and implement prevention strategies where they’re most needed.”
Partially funded by the Diabetes Australia Research Trust in 2017, the research emphasizes the need for better integration of medical data to fully understand the impact of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Professor Grant Brinkworth, Director of Research at Diabetes Australia, called the findings a wake-up call for the healthcare sector. “This study confirms what many of us have been saying for years: we’re not seeing the complete picture of diabetes in Australia,” Brinkworth stated. “Understanding the true scale of the problem is crucial to improving outcomes for individuals and managing the national impact of this condition.”
The study also revealed that many people with diabetes are managing the condition through lifestyle changes or medications such as metformin, but these groups may be less likely to register with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). “If individuals aren’t included in the data, they become invisible to policymakers and funding decisions,” Brinkworth added.
The research underscores the importance of improved screening, earlier diagnosis, and better integration of health systems to ensure that every person affected by diabetes is counted and receives the necessary support and resources.
Diabetes Australia is committed to collaborating with the Australian Government and the healthcare sector to remove barriers to registration and ensure timely, accurate reporting through the NDSS.
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