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Queensland taxpayers will see health spending spiral out of control unless appropriate measures are taken to address serious issues relating to type 2 diabetes, according to the 2014 Queensland Chief Health Officer’s Report released today.

Diabetes Queensland CEO Michelle Trute said the Report’s prediction that the cost of diabetes-related healthcare could increase fivefold in the three decades from 2002-03 to 2032-33 highlighted the necessity of both preventing type 2 diabetes and reducing serious consequences such as blindness and limb amputation.

“The 2014 Queensland Chief Health Officer’s report predicts a 500% increase in diabetes-related spending by 2033 which would have a dire impact on Queensland’s health system and the state’s economy as a whole,” Ms Trute said.

“That would blow the national cost of diabetes out to $8.6 billion per year – or almost six times the cost of the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

“This is an exploding cost burden for a disease that can be prevented or delayed in almost 60 per cent of cases.

“This is clearly unsustainable, particularly when these costs can be dramatically reduced through appropriate programs that address those at risk of type 2 diabetes.”

Ms Trute pointed to the Report’s championing of high-risk prevention programs as the most effective means of addressing the broader causes of the type 2 diabetes epidemic and reducing its impact on the health system.

“The Report highlights the fact that diabetes prevention is a proven, powerful and cost effective way of reducing costs and keeping people healthy and out of hospital,” she said.

“It also reinforces the need for a serious investment in reducing the cost of diabetes-related consequences such as blindness and limb amputation.

“According to the Report, 54 per cent of people are not getting adequate treatment for their diabetes.

“Without adequate treatment the risks of consequences like blindness and limb amputation skyrocket which, in turn, has a huge impact on the health system and on people’s personal lives.”

Ms Trute applauded Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young for her tough stance on addressing Queensland’s obesity crisis.

“Dr Young has unambiguously sounded a warning alarm for Queenslanders about their health,” she said.

“It is true that overweight or obesity has become the new normal and we cannot allow this to be acceptable.”

Editor’s Note: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are lifelong conditions that can affect every part of an individual’s life. Both need to be managed daily to reduce the risk of the diabetes related complications and improve quality of life and life expectancy. While type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and can often be managed by healthy eating and exercise alone, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age but it generally occurs in children and young adults. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented.

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