The rates of type 2 diabetes in remote communities are some of the highest in the world and getting worse, according to new research released by the Menzies School of Health Research.
Menzies researchers examined seven years of health data from 21,000 Aboriginal people across 51 remote communities in the Northern Territory.
It found a staggering 40 per cent of adults in Central Australia now have the condition, which can cause kidney disease, heart disease, strokes, impaired vision and amputations due to infections.
29 per cent of the Aboriginal adult population in the rest of the Territory are also living with the condition.
In 2020 it became the leading cause of death in communities, and those diagnosed with it are getting younger.
“The average age of people getting type two diabetes was 38 years. When you look at the Australian population nationally, most people when they get diabetes, are in their 60s and 70s," said research author Dr Mathew Hare.
“In the NT we are seeing cases in people as young as four with type two diabetes and obesity already.”
Alarmingly, type 2 diabetes is seen at increasingly young ages, when previously the condition was thought to mainly affect older people. Source: NITV News
Campaigns not working
Dr Hare said Type 2 diabetes is not about lifestyle choices but rather “the impacts of colonisation and the ongoing social and economic disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal people in the remote NT.
“We know that the ongoing social disparities experienced by many Aboriginal people living in remote communities are contributing to the diabetes epidemic.”
The research clearly shows that current awareness and education campaigns are not working, and Dr Hare says sweeping changes are needed.
“Holistic prevention strategies need to be developed and implemented in partnership with Aboriginal community members, alongside better resourcing of clinical care for chronic conditions in remote communities," he told NITV News.
'Listen to the community'
Shiree Mack and her family have lived with type two diabetes for years and many of her extended family are also battling the condition.
With younger generations increasingly affected, she says the time for change is now.
“The effects are huge and our little people are getting diagnosed at five and six," she said.
"We need to really ramp up awareness: put it out there and stop letting it be a shame job – let’s support one another.”
Shiree Mack says, "it’s an epidemic with all our young people getting diagnosed so young " Source: NITV News
Ms Mack said any proposed solutions need to come from the community.
"Let’s listen to the community let them tell us what will work. They know.
"Let them tell us what we need to do to support these families and communities to help them get strong together.”
