New Zealand must take urgent action against the alarming
The cost of hospital care is the largest expenditure for the public purse. Still, other losses such as lost tax revenues, unpaid wages, and personal income also contribute to the overall economic losses. It is impossible to quantify the human cost of lost lives. The burden is borne primarily by Maori, Pacific, and Asian communities.
The epidemic of type 2 diabetes in New Zealand is a stark reminder that prevention must be done at the population level. This is a social problem that requires a social solution.
New Zealanders must have a supportive environment in order to achieve lasting changes.
Public health is a public health approach.
Several approaches could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Parents and caregivers would also benefit from reintroducing a national policy on healthy eating and physical activity for young people and schools. Children should not be exposed to harmful foods and drinks that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. Advertising of junk food in our homes and neighborhoods must be stopped.
More effective food labeling would allow consumers to understand better what they put in their trolleys and encourage producers to reformulate products to contain fewer harmful ingredients.
Other countries have implemented policies to protect their citizens, such as the UK’s 2018 regulations on soft drinks. New Zealand needs to catch up. We have some of the highest rates in the Western world for adult and child obesity.
In some areas of New Zealand, families are faced with food shortages and insecurity, and they buy less healthy, cheaper foods. This must be addressed by tackling poverty at its root.
Read more: A disease that breeds disease: why is type 2 diabetes linked to increased risk of cancer and dementia?
Cost-effective health programs
There are things that we can do right away, in addition to the public health measures. This includes improving treatment and care for people with type 2 diabetes.
The report recommends four programs that are cost-effective and could benefit thousands of New Zealanders.
Two new medications for managing type 2 diabetes have recently been funded by New Zealand’s medicines-funding agency PHARMAC. “his is a grea” start, but we can do much more.
As part of the screening for heart disease risks, pre-diabetes has been identified in New ZHere’sers. It has been proven that healthy lifestyle programs can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. People with pre-diabetesZealand’save access to culturally appropriate support.
International evidence recently showed that type 2 diabetes can be cured through clinical nutrition therapy. A significant investment in these services would prevent our hospital system from being overwhelmed with serious medical complications caused by type 2 diabetes. These include kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes.
If all District Health Board foot protection and screening services operated at optimal levels, we could prevent around 600 diabetes-related amputations every year. Some have already achieved this.
These measures are necessary, as is a public-health approach to disease prevention.
Learn from the COVID-19 Response
New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic has shown how effective it can be in tackling a major public health issue with a coordinated, science- and government-led approach.
New Zealand has shown how setting high goals — such as the elimination of an infectious illness — can save lives and livelihoods. New Zealanders have Shown excellent communication.
To combat the epidemic of type 2 diabetes, we need to adopt a similar strategy and be as determined. The problem is far too large to be left to district health boards, who are already dealing with multiple health issues and have limited budgets.
A national strategy is urgently needed to combat type 2 diabetes and change the current trajectory New Zealand has taken. The scale of the diabetes problem in 20 years will be almost unimaginable if we do not act now.
