Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes


Why diabetes prevention?

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's report, Diabetes: Australian Facts 2008 reports that the incidence of diabetes has more than doubled in the last 15 years.

Diabetes is now one of the largest contributors to the disease burden in Australia, and type 2 diabetes accounts for 92 percent of diabetes cases in Australia. Diabetes is associated with a number of complications, including an increased risk of developing cardiovascular, eye and kidney disease. 

However, type 2 diabetes is also largely preventable by controlling associated lifestyle risk factors such as being overweight and obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet.

A number of studies have also shown that intensive lifestyle interventions can reduce the incidence of  type 2 diabetes in people at high risk. For further information on the evidence supporting lifestyle modification programs, visit Lifestyle Modification Programs.

Role of general practice

The Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) report (Britt et al 2007) established that diabetes is one of the main chronic conditions managed by General Practitioners (GPs). GPs are usually the initial point of contact and provide ongoing care and management for people with diabetes, including coordination of the multidisciplinary care services required to manage the condition and its complications.

The role of general practice in addressing diabetes, also includes prevention, early intervention and diagnosis of diabetes. This illustrates the general practice is well placed to be an initial point of contact to support people at risk of diabetes.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes program

Recognising the disease burden of  type 2 diabetes in Australia, in April 2007 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program as a part of the COAG National Reform Agenda.

COAG agreed to a new cost-shared package of $200 million to address the significant growth in type 2 diabetes in the Australian population. Under this package, the Commonwealth Government has committed to: 

  • Development of the Australian  type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK) to support general practice to address patients risk of developing diabetes
  • Item 713 - the diabetes risk review. This item supports general practice to assess the risk factors that contribute to a patients high risk of developing diabetes
  • GPs are able to refer patients to accredited Lifestyle Modification Programs (LMPs) which support patients to undertake sustained lifestyle and behaviour change to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The Divisions network has been funded to purchase and in some circumstances provide Lifestyle Modification Programs
  • Draft standards outlining the content and delivery of LMPs have been developed.

The Department of Health and Ageing has contracted AGPN to manage the implementation of LMPs through the Network.

AGPN acknowledges the financial support of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing