Thursday 8 April 2021 2:36pm
Professors Rachael Taylor and Jim Mann, Director and Co-Director of the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre (EDOR), were instrumental in commissioning and providing expert advice for The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report, which was recently launched at Parliament.
The report launch was hosted by the Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Health (Māori), with the Hon Aupito William Sio, Associate Minister of Health (Pacific Peoples) also addressing the gathering.
From left: Prof Jim Mann (EDOR and HLNSC), Hon Peeni Henare, Ms Heather Verry (DNZ), Prof Rachael Taylor (EDOR), Hon Aupito William Sio.
The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report was jointly commissioned by EDOR, the Healthier Lives–He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge (HLNSC), Diabetes New Zealand (DNZ), and philanthropists Tony and Heather Falkenstein. PwC New Zealand produced the report with input from health experts, including Professors Rachael Taylor and Jim Mann.
From left: Ms Catherine Taylor (Chair, DNZ), Sir Jerry Mateparae (Chair, HLNSC), Ms Heather Verry (CEO, DNZ), Mr Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti (Partner, PwC New Zealand), Mr Tony Falkenstein (Philanthropist), Prof Rachael Taylor (EDOR), Prof Jim Mann (EDOR & HLNSC).
Key findings of the report:
- 228,000 New Zealanders (4.7% of the population) have type 2 diabetes, with a further 18.6% of the population estimated to have prediabetes; the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is expected to almost double over the next 20 years.
- The current cost of type 2 diabetes to NZ is estimated to be $2.1 billion dollars, which equates to 0.67% of New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP); the cost of type 2 diabetes is expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2040.
- A holistic and system-wide response from Government, society and individuals is urgently needed to address the projected type 2 diabetes prevalence, costs and health inequities; type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects Māori, Asian and Pacific Peoples.
- Four health interventions for type 2 diabetes examined in the report were found to be cost-effective, saving hundreds of millions of dollars, increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life for a huge number of New Zealanders.
- A National Strategy for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes is needed to change the trajectory of this fast-growing epidemic.
Type 2 diabetes report in the media
There has been extensive media coverage of the report launch and Aotearoa's looming type 2 diabetes crisis, including:
- Diabesity: The 'tidal wave' of diabetes and obesity that could soon cost New Zealand $3.5b a year, Newshub, 4 April, 2021
- Better podiatry services can avoid diabetes-related amputations and save lives, NZ Doctor, 25 March, 2021
- Type-2 Diabetes could hit quarter of NZ's Pacific population, RNZ, 25 March, 2021
- New Zealand needs urgent action to tackle the frightening rise and cost of type 2 diabetes, The Conversation, 24 March, 2021
- Concerns young Kiwis are facing a future diabetes epidemic, NewstalkZB, 16 March, 2021
- Number of Kiwis with type 2 diabetes expected to skyrocket, RNZ, 16 March, 2021
- New Zealand's Type 2 Diabetes epidemic looking to get worse, Newshub, 15 March, 2021
- 'Urgent priority': Dire diabetes price tag expected to blow out to $3.5 billion a year by 2040, The Herald, 12 March, 2021
Watch a video summary of the launch
Read the report
The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes - executive summary , 16 pages (PDF, 1.4MB)
The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes - full report, 147 pages (PDF, 8MB)