Member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas says he will be pushing for more state government funding to help stop the spiralling growth of type two diabetes in Queensland with an estimated 9000 people either diagnosed or at high risk in his electorate alone.
“There needs to be an approach which builds on personal responsibility with government leverage, much like the long-term effort to reduce smoking rates,” Dr Douglas said.
“In my electorate there are 3,226 people living with type two diabetes, but the figure is probably significantly higher and estimated by Diabetes Queensland to be about 9,000 people.
“Diabetes Queensland has told me that for every person diagnosed with this disease, there would be nearly three people who are undiagnosed, have pre-diabetes or at high risk.
“As a long-time GP in the electorate, I know these statistics will not decline without action from the state government.
“I support Diabetes Queensland’s campaign for a cross portfolio approach to battling the disease across planning, sport and recreation, communities, environment and tourism all working together with Queensland Health.
“There needs to be a change in culture to adjust behaviours to prevent obesity which in turn will go a long way in turning diabetes around.
“Recent research says that diabetes is costing Queensland more than $1.1 billion annually in lost productivity alone.
“For too long, diabetes has been ignored and needs to be put at the top of the election agenda for the future of our economy as well.”