T1 diabetes in children jumps 30pc

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T1 diabetes in children jumps 30pc - Yahoo!7 News

T1 diabetes in children jumps 30pc

CATHY O'LEARY MEDICAL EDITOR, The West Australian August 21, 2009, 12:59 am


Australian health experts are worried about spiralling rates of insulin-dependence with almost 1000 children developing type-1 diabetes each year and more people with type-2 diabetes needing insulin.

An Australian Health and Welfare Institute report being released on Friday confirms Australia's reputation as a global hot-spot for diabetes, making it one of the top 10 countries for high rates of type-1 in children.

The report shows 990 children aged under 15 were diagnosed in 2007 - a 30 per cent increase since 2000.

While new cases of type-1 diabetes fell slightly in people aged over 40, numbers remained stable in those aged 15 to 39.

Another worrying trend the review identified was the sharply rising number of people with type-2 diabetes needing insulin. Traditionally, this form of diabetes has not been insulin-dependent and managed largely by lifestyle factors such as improved diet.

But across all ages, there was a 63 per cent increase in new cases of insulin-treated type-2 disease between 2000 and 2007, the report found.
Katherine Faulks from the institute's Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Kidney Unit said one in five people with type-2 diabetes now used insulin. There was also a six-fold increase over eight years in new cases of insulin-treated gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

"All these numbers are saying the same thing, which is that the incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia is increasing, no matter what the age group or the type of diabetes," she said.

Diabetes WA chief executive officer Andrew Wagstaff said the national trends were mirrored in WA.

"Untreated type-1 diabetes can be fatal and while there are currently no known risk factors or advice for its prevention, it is important that parents are familiar with the symptoms," he said. "These can come on in a few weeks and can include severe thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, tiredness and blurred vision."

Research which needed continued funding was being done worldwide to find possible triggers or risk factors for type-1 diabetes.
Mr Wagstaff said the report showed the importance of work at the Diabetes Research Foundation of WA.