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Diabetes or high blood glucose

Introduction

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterised by high blood glucose levels, resulting from the body either not producing insulin or not using insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone needed for glucose to enter the cells and be converted to energy.[1] Diabetes affects a person's health in 2 ways: by direct metabolic complications, which can be immediately life threatening if not treated promptly; by long term complications involving the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and major blood vessels including those in the heart.

There are 3 main forms of diabetes: type 1, or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, which occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin; type 2, or non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, which occurs when the pancreas is not producing enough insulin and the insulin it produces is not working effectively; and gestational diabetes, which occurs in pregnancy and should disappear after the birth.[1] The management of type 2, which is the most common form of diabetes, depends on careful control of glucose levels, blood lipid levels (especially cholesterol levels), blood pressure, and regular screening for complications.[2-5]

Type 2 diabetes accounts for up to 90 per cent of all cases of diabetes. In 2004, diabetes was the principal cause of 2.2 per cent of deaths and a related cause of 5.2 per cent of deaths in New South Wales. Between 1989-90 and 2004-05, diabetes related hospitalisations increased by 96 per cent in New South Wales.[6]

In 2006, the New South Wales Population Health Survey asked respondents: Have you ever been told by a doctor or hospital you have diabetes? Have you ever been told by a doctor or hospital you have high blood glucose? How old were you when first told you had diabetes or high blood glucose? What are you doing now to manage your diabetes or high blood glucose? If female, respondents were also asked: Were you pregnant when first told you had diabetes or high blood glucose? and, Have you ever had diabetes or high blood glucose apart from when you were pregnant?

Results

In 2006, 7.4 per cent of adults had diabetes or high blood glucose. A significantly lower proportion of females (6.4 per cent) than males (8.5 per cent) had diabetes or high blood glucose. The prevalence of diabetes or high blood glucose increased with age. Among males, a significantly lower proportion of adults aged 16-24 years (1.4 per cent) and 25-34 years (2.6 per cent), and a significantly higher proportion of adults aged 55-64 years (15.9 per cent) and 65-74 years (20.1 per cent) and 75 years and over (17.7 per cent), had diabetes or high blood glucose, compared with the overall adult male population. Among females, a significantly lower proportion of adults aged 16-24 years (1.7 per cent) and 25-34 years (2.2 per cent) and 35-44 years (3.0 per cent), and a significantly higher proportion of adults aged 55-64 years (11.4 per cent) and 65-74 years (13.8 per cent) and 75 years and over (13.5 per cent), had diabetes or high blood glucose, compared with the overall adult female population.

There was no significant variation between rural areas and urban areas, or among health areas. A lower proportion of adults in the least disadvantaged quintile (5.3 per cent), and a higher proportion of adults in the most disadvantaged quintile (9.6 per cent, had diabetes or high blood glucose, compared with the overall adult population.

Overall, the prevalence of diabetes or high blood glucose increased significantly between 1997 (4.7 per cent) and 2006 (7.4 per cent). The increase was significant in both males (5.2 per cent to 8.5 per cent) and females (4.2 per cent to 6.4 per cent).

Among those with diabetes or high blood glucose, the following management strategies were reported: 60.6 per cent followed a special diet, 43.2 per cent took medication or tablets, 30.7 per cent exercised most days, 11.2 per cent had insulin injections, 8.1 per cent lost weight, and 8.2 per cent did not do anything.

References

  1. Diabetes Australia. What is Diabetes. Available online at www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/_lib/doc_pdf/resources/factsheets/what_is_diabetes.pdf (accessed 10 May 2007).
  2. Australian Centre for Diabetes Strategies. National evidence based guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Primary prevention and case detection and diagnosis. Sydney: Prince of Wales Hospital, 2001. Available online at www.diabetes.net.au/evidence_based_healthcare/index.asp (accessed 10 May 2007).
  3. Australian Centre for Diabetes Strategies. National evidence based guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Blood pressure control. Sydney: Prince of Wales Hospital, 2004. Available online at www.diabetes.net.au/evidence_based_healthcare/index.asp (accessed 10 May 2007).
  4. Australian Centre for Diabetes Strategies. National evidence based guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Prevention and detection of macrovascular disease. Sydney: Prince of Wales Hospital, 2004. Available online at www.diabetes.net.au/evidence_based_healthcare/index.asp (accessed 10 May 2007).
  5. Australian Centre for Diabetes Strategies. National evidence based guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Lipid control. Sydney: Prince of Wales Hospital, 2004. Available online at www.diabetes.net.au/evidence_based_healthcare/index.asp (accessed 10 May 2007).
  6. Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales: Report of the Chief Health Officer, 2006. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2006. Available online at www.health.nsw.gov.au (accessed 10 May 2007).

Graphs

Source: New South Wales Population Health Survey 2006 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Print version: Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen.
Produced by: Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on: 1 July 2007

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