New data has revealed an alarming increase in the number of Kiwis who have diabetes, with Diabetes New Zealand describing it as an “epidemic”.
The Virtual Diabetes Register found that around 95,700 people have been diagnosed with the disease in the past three years, bringing the total number of people with diabetes to around 324,000.
Health projections show that the number could surpass 500,000 by 2040.
Pasifika were most at risk, with more than 12% of the local community diagnosed with the disease.
That compares to 10% for the Indian community and 7% for Māori.
The results have seen advocacy groups call for more action.
“This is a crisis for the health system and for people, and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Diabetes New Zealand chief executive Heather Verry said.
Verry said diet, lifestyle, and obesity were some of the main factors behind the increase.
“Unfortunately, the increase is due to our health styles, and there’s a huge increase in obesity, and that’s not just in New Zealand but globally.
“We’ve also got an ageing population, and the other thing is that people unfortunately are getting diabetes at a younger age, so they’ve got more chances of getting complications.”
She said that while a sugar tax or levy could be part of the solution, government funding was crucial.
“Diabetes is an epidemic, and it needs some huge investment from the Government in order to address it.
“We need to make people aware that diabetes is something that can be managed, and the sooner they get diagnosed, the better health outcomes they will have.”
Health Minister Shane Reti said he was focused on accelerating action for diseases like diabetes.
He said that while addressing risk factors like alcohol, tobacco, and poor nutrition would help reduce figures, a sugar tax was not a current position for the Government.
Advocacy groups like Diabetes New Zealand also want more clarity around the data.
“The data does not show the difference between type 1 and type 2. There are different conditions, and they need to have different medication and different support and management,” Verry said.
