Geoff Lyons (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am pleased to talk today about diabetes. I am concerned about the epidemic of diabetes that exists in Australia and particularly in my electorate of Bass. It is unbelievable that 65 per cent of Tasmanians aged 18 and over are overweight or obese which, as we all know, is a precursor to type 2 diabetes and all that that involves: blindness, circulation problems and a great burden on the health system of our nation.

In Launceston, Dr Kilov recently told the Examiner newspaper that there are about 500,000 to 700,000 Australians with underdiagnosed type 2 diabetes. He believes the problem is worse in Tasmania. He said that there are those diagnosed but there are also many who are undertreated, meaning that they could do more to manage their condition. I am amazed at the Seaport medical centre in Launceston, which has a genuine interest in preventative health. It is particularly working on lifestyles, to reduce the risk of diabetes in my state and electorate of Bass.