A $200 million scheme to prevent diabetes in thousands of Australians has been dropped by the Federal Government, despite soaring rates for the condition.
The scheme, which allowed people with multiple risk factors to enrol in courses to change their diet and reduce their susceptibility to the illness, is being dropped because of limited uptake since its inception in 2008, says the government.
Funding for the lifestyle modification programs will be withdrawn from July because only 3000 people have made use of it.
Diabetes Australia has said it is disappointed by the move, given that Australia has two million adults at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and studies show that the programs were effective.
Diabetes diagnoses have soared in Australia over the past 30 years in line with increased obesity. The condition is predicted to become the top cause of illness and death by 2016.
Research suggests that a million people have diabetes in Australia, but for every person diagnosed there is likely to be another undiagnosed. The disease is estimated to cost Australia about $12 billion a year.
Steve Georganas, Labor Member for Hindmarsh, and a vocal advocate for diabetes prevention initiatives, told Neos Kosmos that the government remains committed to develop schemes to help prevent diabetes.
“Unfortunately, despite every effort to promote this program with doctors, participation was much lower than anticipated,” said Mr Georganas, whose father was a diabetes sufferer.
“That’s why in the April budget, we decided to replace the program with a number of other initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and to prevent diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.”
Mr Georganas said the government will continue to promote initiatives to prevent lifestyle-induced chronic diseases, through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health and the Coordinated Care for Diabetes pilot program, which will test a more consumer-centred approach to diabetes prevention.