Top hot spot

By Shaun Inguanzo
A DIABETES epidemic has hit Greater Dandenong with latest figures showing diagnoses of the harmful metabolic disease have skyrocketed by 87 per cent over the past five years.
The city ranks among the top five of metropolitan Melbourne’s diabetes hotspots according to data released by Diabetes Australia Victoria (DAV), which has just kicked off a campaign to curb the statewide rise.
The figures show that Greater Dandenong’s diabetic population has risen from 2719 in 2001 to 5089 this year – a massive 4 per cent of the city’s population.
DAV chief executive Greg Johnson said that in 2001 Greater Dandenong was not even a diabetes hotspot, but it had now become one of the leading suburbs to carry the disease in epidemic proportions.
“When you look at the City of Greater Dandenong in terms of growth, there are now over 5000 residents who are diagnosed and registered as having diabetes,” he said.
Mr Johnson said the increase was caused by poor eating habits and lack of exercise.
He said it was worrying that the number of undiagnosed type two diabetes cases could be even higher.
“The real problem with type two diabetes is that it may be silent, meaning there are no symptoms,” he said.
“This is the real problem, because it is quite common for people to find that maybe they have had diabetes for five or six years and may have been developing complications along the way.
“It is not uncommon for people to be diagnosed with diabetes when they go to get checked up for something like eyesight deterioration.
“They then discover it is diabetes related.”
Mr Johnson said the most disturbing trend was the rise among younger people, particularly the 25 to 39-year-old demographic.
Diabetes Australia is now urging local governments to take responsibility for promoting healthier living to their residents.
“We need all levels of government to act on the problem,” Mr Johnson said.
“Diabetes is an epidemic, a huge public health issue that is very serious.
“No one should be looking for someone else to do something about it; councils and their mayors can make a difference locally through promoting physical activity and healthy eating.”