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Brumby launches new data on diabetes epidemic

Mon 1 March 2010

New data on the diabetes epidemic in western Melbourne was launched last week by Premier John Brumby with a call for fast food outlets to consider calorie labelling on menus. Mr Brumby announced that he will be discussing labelling with the fast food industry after the success of a similar initiative in New York.

The University’s Australian Community Centre on Diabetes, working with Diabetes Australia – Victoria on a mapping project, has found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in western Melbourne far exceeds the Victorian average.

Up to one in seven people in the west have the disease, compared with one in 30 for the whole of Victoria. Brimbank is a particular hotspot. In the suburb of Ardeer, of those aged over 55, one in three has the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is primarily a lifestyle disease that is closely linked to obesity and can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness.

Executive Director of the ACCD Harry Bryce said the mapping project had helped to define the problem – where it is and who it is affecting. “It also helps us to determine where we need to focus our efforts and resources in looking for solutions. More importantly it tells us that we need to do more and in a variety of ways,” he said.

The ACCD focuses on diabetes as a community and social issue rather than purely as a health issue. In this way it hopes to address challenges including cultural diversity, lower socioeconomic status, poor health literacy and insufficient infrastructure.

The St Albans-based centre engages community leadership in innovative ways. It encourages employers and employees in their workplaces to develop healthier workplaces and workforces. ACCD also works with communities from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are at risk of getting diabetes.

Victoria University established the ACCD as a collaborative partnership with key players including Western Health, Western Region Health Centre, Western Bulldogs, Diabetes Australia Victoria, LeadWest, PivotWest Division of General Practice, Australian Industry Group, Health West and The Indigenous Gathering Place.

The centre’s research director Professor Kerry Bennett outlined three projects that build on the mapping exercise.

The first is an audit of food outlets. “Early results suggest that some suburbs in western Melbourne have no or minimal fresh food outlets but have  high proportions of take-away food and thus quick cheap access to high-salt, high-saturated fat and high-sugar food,” Professor Bennett said.

“This dietary problem is exacerbated by poor recreational facilities and low levels of exercise.”

A second project in development aims to design and test intervention strategies such as the fast food labelling idea.

The ACCD also works with more than 20 different cultural groups to develop culturally appropriate information and education materials to reduce their risk of contracting the disease.

“We work with key community leaders to seek their advice about the specific cultural factors that we should focus on to improve diet, education and physical activity levels,” Professor Bennett said.

“Health professionals cannot continue with the model of ‘treating the accident’ after it has happened. The health system will not be able to meet demand if such rates continue. Prevention and better management has to occur now.”

VU Vibe, February 2010 edition

This story forms part of the VU Vibe newsletter for February 2010. The newsletter is published every two months by the Government Liaison Unit (GLU).

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