Originally published January 3 2006
Diabetes predictions cast a shadow over the future health of Australia
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Census data from Diabetes Australia has projected that by 2010, 2 million Australians will have diabetes.
Residents of Fairfield have rates of diabetes three times higher than do people in Paddington and Seaforth, showing the disease is linked to socio-economic factors.
A study has mapped the incidence of diabetes by suburb for the first time, showing it affects as many as 12 per cent of people in Sydney's western and south-western suburbs.
The Sun-Herald last week reported that these areas also had the highest concentrations of obese and overweight people.
The findings come as health experts concede we are losing the battle of the bulge and authorities may need to look at more radical measures such as a "fat tax" on junk food.
The diabetes maps, compiled from census data by Diabetes Australia-NSW, show that Fairfield is the diabetes centre of Sydney, with 6.24 per cent of people diagnosed, nearly twice the Australian average.
Neville Howard, president of Diabetes Australia-NSW, said the data had smashed the common perception that diabetes does not affect rich and poor people differently.
Areas with high immigrant populations are also more likely to have high rates of diabetes, because of the greater genetic risk of certain ethnic groups, he said.
If the trend continues, 2 million Australians will have diabetes by 2010.
Western Sydney Area Health Service chief executive Steven Boyages said it was "exceptionally difficult" to change people's lifestyles.
But he said a Healthy Weight Strategy Forum, which met last week, was looking at practical measures such as a fat tax on high-calorie foods.
Dr Boyages, who is also a diabetes specialist, said even small factors such as a lack of water dispensers in shopping centres, forcing people to buy sugary soft drinks, contributed to the problem of obesity and diabetes.
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