Increasing Rate of Type II Diabetes

This article discusses the increasing rate of type II diabetes in Australia and its impact on the population. It explores the causes and risk factors associated with type II diabetes and highlights the initiatives taken by the Australian government to manage this chronic problem. The article also suggests awareness programs and lifestyle changes to prevent and reduce the rate of type II diabetes.

Running head: INCREASING RATE OF TYPE II DIABETES
Increasing Rate of Type II Diabetes
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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INCREASING RATE OF TYPE II DIABETES
Common goods is the thought of various prominent achievement without thinking about
the individual benefit and it is not associated with the personal benefit of the individual. In the
society, there are a few people who contributes to improvement of the society without having
any benefits of their own. For example it can be said, the taxes paid by the people are not used
for their direct benefit, rather this amount is used for the wellness of many people and that can be
referred to as the common good (ACU , 2016). The type II diabetes is a common problem in the
world and as well as in the Australia. The increasing rate of type II diabetes in Australia is a
serious area of concern for the Australia and it has become a chronic problem for almost every
Australian (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018).
In the 21st century, the problem of diabetes has become the biggest challenge to fight
against for the for the health system of Australia. It is very difficult to figure out the actual
number of diabetes patients in Australia. Type II diabetes is accountable for almost 80-85% of
total diabetes patients diagnosed in Australia (Sainsbury, Shi, Flack & Colagiuri, 2018). A
diabetes type II is diagnosed when the hormone named insulin is not working properly or the
insulin producing organ, pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. As a result, the level of
blood glucose cannot be lowered due to lack of insulin function. The type II diabetes is
developed after long period of insulin resistance and with time the ineffectiveness of the insulin
also increases. As a result the pancreas produces more insulin and due to overproduction of
insulin for a long time, the insulin producing cells in the pancreas is damaged. It can be said that,
the type II diabetes is the combination of insulin resistance and lack of enough insulin
production. In addition to this diabetes type II can be genetically inherited. It is seen that, the
chances of diabetes type II is more common among the people of a particular ethnic group or

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who have previous medical history of type II diabetes in the family (Sainsbury, Shi, Flack &
Colagiuri, 2018).
According to a report of The Weekend Australian, in 2014-15 almost 5.1 % of total
Australian have diabetes and type II diabetes is dominant in this total number of diabetes in
Australia (Parnell, 2016). Moreover, most of the Australian has no knowledge about their disease
status. In Australia, diabetes is more common among the men than that of the women. The
prevalence rate of the diabetes type II is increasing with the growing age of the people and it is
seen that almost 16% of total diabetes patients is in the age group of 65-74 years (Parnell, 2016).
In addition to the growing age, the high blood pressure, overweight are also in the high risk zone
of having diabetes in near future. The Torres Strait Island people also had the risk of diabetes and
it is seen that 13% of indigenous people have the problem of diabetes. In case of the indigenous
people the age of 35 is considered as age of risk for having diabetes type II. Type II diabetes is
also associated with many other diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, foot ulcers. Diabetes also
enhances the total annual cost impact of Australia and the estimated amount is almost $14.6
billion (Heart & Diabetes Institute, 2018).
For managing the diabetes type II in Australia, the Australian Government has taken
various initiatives and National Diabetes Strategy (2016-2020). Significant funding are allowed
to address the problems of diabetes type II. In addition to this, medical benefit schedule is
introduced and this scheme helps the patients by giving medicare and patient care in a subsidized
rate. The pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme allows the patients to get medicine in a subsidized
rate. In addition to this, The National Diabetes Services Scheme helps the diabetes patients by
providing free syringes, needles, urine ketone test strips, insulin pumps, blood glucose test strips.

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Lastly, a huge amount of money is invested in the diabetes research through National Health and
Medical Research Council (NHMRC) ("Department of Health | Diabetes", 2018).
In order to manage the increasing rate of diabetes type II in Australia, the government
should initiate various awareness program as a huge amount of diabetes is still unreported in
Australia. The people should know more about the disease so that it can be prevented. In addition
to this, more health professionals can be engaged so that more people can have access of the
treatment even in the remote areas. Various bodily exercise activity should be promoted to
reduce the rate of obesity among people and may help to reduce the rate of diabetes type II.

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References
ACU. (2016). Retrieved from https://leocontent.acu.edu.au/file/8e8cfd0c-0c07-4862-92c1-
118b46d203d4/18/pdf/M5-TheCommonGood.pdf
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018). About Diabetes - Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-
conditions-disability-deaths/diabetes/about#t2 [Accessed 29 Dec. 2018].
Diabetes Australia (2018). Type 2 diabetes. Diabetesaustralia.com.au. Available at:
https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/type-2-diabetes [Accessed 29 Dec. 2018].
Department of Health | Diabetes. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/chronic-diabetes#pro
Heart & Diabetes Institute. (2018). Retrieved from
https://static.diabetesaustralia.com.au/s/fileassets/diabetes-australia/e7282521-472b-
4313-b18e-be84c3d5d907.pdf
Parnell, S. (2016). Killer diabetes on the rise. Theaustralian.com.au. Available at:
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/health-wellbeing/deadly-but-preventable-type-2-
diabetes-on-the-rise-in-australia/news-story/932e36469eff636108e70be7617e026d
[Accessed 29 Dec. 2018].
Sainsbury, E., Shi, Y., Flack, J., & Colagiuri, S. (2018). Burden of Diabetes in Australia: It’s
Time for More Action. Retrieved from
http://www.novonordisk.com.au/content/dam/australia/affiliate/www-novonordisk-au/
Home/Documents/180712_Burden%20of%20Diabetes_Its%20Time%20for%20More
%20Action%20Report_Digital_%20FINAL....pdf

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