Diabetes affects 120,000 but is ‘almost ignored’

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 21

Diabetes affects 120,000 but is ‘almost ignored’

PA Wellington Diabetes, affecting 120,000 New Zealanders, is almost ignored by politicians and the Health Department, says the executive manager of the Diabetes Association, Mr John Rutherford.

Speaking to the Wellington Diabetic Society, Mr Rutherford compared the low funding for diabetes with funding for heart disease and A.I.D.S. “A.I.D.S. is receiving $2.9 million from the Health Department of taxpayer funding for 15 confirmed cases,” he said.

“Yet only 10c a head of population is spent by

the Government on diabetes research and education.”

Mr Rutherford quoted a Christchurch researcher, Dr Russell Scott, who estimated diabetes cost more than $lOO million a year. Diabetes was the third leading cause of death (after cancer and heart disease), was largest single cause of all amputation because of vascular problems, and was largest single cause of blindness. Reasons for diabetes having such a low profile were varied, Mr Rutherford said. It was not political or glamorous,

and was not believed to be a death disorder.

He argued that large sums of money could be saved through investment in diabetes research and education. New Zealand had more than 120,000 diabetics — roughly the size of Wellington’s city population — yet a number of those were unaware of their conditon. Of those who were aware, many were badly educated.

Mr Rutherford said that diabetes would receive neither recognition, funding nor support until the new national association became more vocal.