The number of Australians living with diabetes could be up to 35% higher than previously estimated, according to new research from the University of Sydney.
The research, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice,1 highlights a much larger and more diverse population living with diabetes, particularly older Australians, people in remote areas, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The study applied a sophisticated algorithm to integrated health data from Medicare, hospital records, and pharmaceutical claims. The results suggest there could be more than two million Australians living with diabetes, many of whom are currently missing from the official diabetes register.
Lead author Emma Cox, a PhD Candidate from the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data, said with a significant number of Australians missing from national statistics, it is harder to plan services, allocate funding, and deliver prevention strategies where they’re most needed.
“This isn’t just a data issue, it’s a public health issue”
“This isn’t just a data issue, it’s a public health issue,” Ms Cox said.
Professor Grant Brinkworth, Director of Research at Diabetes Australia, said the findings offer a compelling call to action.
“This study tells us what many of us in the sector have said for years: we’re not seeing the full picture of diabetes in Australia,” Prof Brinkworth said. “Understanding the true scale is essential if we want to improve outcomes for individuals and manage the national impact of this condition.”
The study also found that many people who are living with diabetes are managing the condition through lifestyle changes or medications like metformin, groups who may be less likely to register with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
“If people aren’t visible in the data, they’re also invisible to policy and funding decisions,” Prof Brinkworth added.
The research reinforces the importance of improved screening, earlier diagnosis, and greater health system integration to ensure every person affected by diabetes is counted, supported, and resourced.
Reference
- Cox E, Gale J, Gibson AA, et al. Is the burden of diabetes in Australia underestimated? Comparison of diabetes ascertainment using linked administrative health data and an Australian diabetes registry. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2025; 222:112113. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2025.112113.
