Diabetes underestimate
July 11, 2016
WITH more than 12% of global
health expenditure directed
to diabetes treatment, the
methodology of data collection
around the public health needs
related to one of the largest
chronic disease epidemics in
human history, diabetes, has been
seriously underestimated both
globally and in Australia, according
to Monash Professor of Diabetes,
Paul Zimmet.
Writing in a new paper with
co-authors from the UK and the
US, all leading global figures in
diabetes epidemiology research,
Zimmet said, “There are major and
serious gaps in our knowledge of
the burden of diabetes, particularly
in developing countries which will
have significant unforeseen impacts
on national health care systems.”
“As the fasting blood sugar has
been used as the diagnostic test for
these conditions in the Australian
2012-2013 National Health Survey,
it is almost certain that the true
burden of disease has been
underestimated.
The WHO recommendation
of a fasting blood glucose test
followed by a two hour test after a
glucose challenge has resulted in a
prognotic estimation error of up to
25%, Zimmet explained.
An alternative test, HbA1c
(glycated haemoglobin) is now
being recommended by WHO and
the American Diabetes Association
to replace the fasting glucose test.
Research is still underway to
ensure it achieves the objective.
Co-author Professor Sir George
Alberti, a former president of
the IDF and the Royal College of
Physicians (London), said accurate
data is crucial.
“Accurate data on the burden
of diabetes is required so that
countries can identify current
and future healthcare priorities
to estimate direct and indirect
economic and societal costs
of the disease and to allocate
appropriate healthcare resources
and expenditures for healthcare
delivery,” Alberti said.
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