Number of Diabetic Children on the Rise in Oz

The number of Type-I diabetes cases among children is increasing at an alarming rate with Australia at the top of the list, a new study conducted by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals. The AIHW report says that at least two children younger than 14 years of age are diagnosed with diabetes in Australia each day with more than 8,000 new cases registered in the country during the period between 2000 and 2004.

While the rate stabilized somewhat in the next four years, it is once again on the rise with the annual increase of new cases in the country pegged at over 6.2 percent.

Stating Australia’s rate of diabetes cases is the highest 10 OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries, AIHW’s Anna-Marie Waters said that it puts an enormous pressure on the country’s healthcare.

“I t definitely creates a burden on the healthcare system, it also creates a burden for the children and their families because of the treatment they need to have, it's a life-long condition so they need to have it for the rest of their lives”, she added.


Source-Medindia