Mr HOLLIS(1.16 p.m.) —I move:

That this House:

(1)   recognises that 14 November 1997 was World Diabetes Day;

(2)   commends the Government for its recognition of the seriousness of diabetes in making it one of the five health priorities;

(3)   recognises that an increasing proportion of the Australian population is affected by diabetes, in that every twelve minutes someone, somewhere in Australia is diagnosed with this chronic disease; and

(4)   urges the Government to continue funding research into diabetes and the National Diabetes Strategy and to promote a widespread education campaign through Diabetes Australia to alert the population of the risks of developing the disease.

By the time the debate on this motion has concluded, three more people in Australia will be diagnosed with diabetes, because every 12 minutes someone somewhere in Australia is diagnosed with diabetes. This is a matter that should be of concern to all Australians, but especially to us as members of parliament.

This disease is reaching epidemic proportions. An estimated 800,000 Australians now have the disease, with half of those people having non-insulin dependent diabetes and not even knowing it. Because of increases in the prevalence of risk factors and the ageing of the population, the prevalence of diabetes is expected to continue to rise. Unless something is done to slow this progression, 1.15 million Australians will have diabetes by the year 2010. New research has shown that early diagnosis of diabetes, good control of blood glucose levels and regular medical checks help people with diabetes to prevent, delay or minimise complications.

Last Friday, 14 November, was World Diabetes Day, when diabetes organisations around the world attempted to raise public awareness of the serious impact diabetes is having on global health. World Diabetes Day links countries around the world in an international drive to alert people to the seriousness of diabetes, the risk factors for non-insulin dependent diabetes and the ongoing need for research in pursuit of a cure. Diabetes Australia played an important role in alerting people to the disease last Friday, World Diabetes Day.

Reports from the recent International Diabetes Federation Congress in Finland estimate that 132 million people now have diabetes worldwide and that this will increase by 240 million by the year 2010. In 1990 diabetes was ranked 16th in global causes of death but now rates as the fifth major cause of death as it reaches epidemic proportions.

According to Diabetes Australia, the rate of diabetes in Australia's overall population is following global high trends, and urban Aborigines have the fourth highest rate in the world. Migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds are also at high risk of developing diabetes due to changes in their lifestyles. Non-insulin dependent diabetes is a disease that is often triggered by lifestyle factors, such as unhealthy eating and low levels of activity. This is different from insulin dependent diabetes, which is not caused by lifestyle. As countries develop economically, eating habits tend to change to include more high fat foods, and activity often decreases.

It is important that people realise what they can do to avoid diseases like non-insulin dependent diabetes through healthy eating plans and regular exercise. For people who already have the disease, the aim is to educate them so they can maintain good diabetes management. It is now clear that good control of diabetes can reduce the development of complications, such as blindness, kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, limb amputation and impotence. All people with diabetes should have a healthy eating plan, exercise regularly, test glucose levels daily and seek regular medical check-ups.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85 per cent of those with the disease. People most at risk of developing it are over 40, overweight, have a family history of diabetes, have high blood pressure and, if female, have given birth to babies weighing over four kilograms. As a group, because of our lifestyle, we as members of parliament are among the high risk categories of diabetes. At the moment there is no cure for diabetes, but there is excellent treatment available. Although diabetes cannot be cured by insulin or tablets, it can be managed with help and advice by doctors and other health workers.

Having diabetes is no sentence to inactivity. People can maintain a normal lifestyle provid ed they watch their weight and exercise regularly. Australian governments, both state and federal, have recognised the seriousness of diabetes in that at the meeting in July 1996 Australian health ministers agreed to include diabetes as a fifth national health priority area. This has lifted the public profile of diabetes and paves the way for the implementation of some national strategies of real value to address the prevention, early diagnosis and control and management of diabetes in Australia. It should also result in an unprecedented level of cooperation between governments and diabetes organisations such as the International Diabetes Institute, Diabetes Australia and other non-government groups.

In December 1996 the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Diabetes was established to provide high level, independent, expert advice to the Commonwealth on all issues relating to the development and implementation of a national diabetes strategy. Funding of $7.7 million over three years was allocated in the 1996-97 budget to implement a national diabetes strategy, first announced in the `Health throughout life' policy document. The strategy has the objective of reducing the incidence, prevalence and impact of complications of diabetes in Australia, and the social, economic and health costs of this disease to the community.

There are considerable costs, both direct and indirect, in regard to diabetes in Australia. The cost of the illness to people's quality of life is immeasurable. It has been estimated that one in every seven of our health dollars is spent on either diabetes or its complications. There are large in-patient costs, something like $280 million, and nursing home costs, something like $94 million, associated with diabetes in Australia.

The largest contributor by far to the annual in-patient cost of diabetes is vascular disease, which costs at least $111 million per year. Pharmaceutical treatments such as insulin or oral tablets and physician visits cost about $70 million and $90 million respectively per year. Production loss from premature mortality is estimated at $377 million annually, based on average earnings and life years lost to age 75.

The real cost is very difficult to accurately state as so many people who have the disease or have non-insulin dependent diabetes are unaware of it and the illnesses they have. Time lost through work is often put down to some other cause. I must say that the current Minister for Health and Family Services (Dr Wooldridge) has played a very active role in raising the awareness of diabetes. I know, from the many press statements he has put out and the commitment he has to that field, he is determined that the education of Australians will be raised in regard to diabetes.

I urge the government to continue funding research into diabetes and the national diabetes strategy. It is essential that a widespread education campaign be promoted to alert the population to the risks of developing the disease. I commend Diabetes Australia for the work they do, the important role they play and, indeed, the activities that they arranged last Friday—World Diabetes Day. The ultimate goal must be for a cure for diabetes, but research must continue in areas which may improve quality of life for people with diabetes.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Nehl) —Is the motion seconded?

Ms Ellis —I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER —Before I call the next speaker, I commend the honourable member for Throsby (Mr Hollis). As a maturity onset diabetic myself, I think you and all of the speakers on this are doing a good job in publicising it. I am pleased to tell you I walked for over one hour this morning.