MEDIA RELEASE
10 November 2009
The Victorian Arts Centre spire – a Melbourne icon – will be specially
lit this week to draw attention to the growing world crisis in diabetes
The International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) latest data shows diabetes now affects 285
million people worldwide and will cost the world economy at least US$376 billion in 2010, or
11.6 per cent of total world healthcare expenditure.
A further 344 million people are at risk of developing diabetes (pre-diabetes). If nothing is done
to reverse the epidemic, IDF predicts that by 2030, 435 million people will live with the disease
at a cost projected to exceed US$490 billion.
To draw attention to this health crisis, the Victorian Arts Centre spire – a Melbourne icon and
Parliament House in Canberra, the home of Australia's Parliament, along with over 600 iconic
buildings worldwide will be specially lit leading up to Saturday, 14 November, World Diabetes
Day.
Since 2007 and the United Nation’s recognition of diabetes as a chronic and life threatening
disease iconic buildings around the world have been lit in blue to mark the day (or a blue circle
that is the global symbol of diabetes.)
The London Eye in the UK, the Tokyo Tower in Japan, the Opera House in Sydney and the
Empire State building in the New York have been spectacularly bathed in blue light to bring
attention to the burgeoning disease.
According to recently retired IDF President Professor Martin Silink, apart from the alarming
statistics on the growth of diabetes, the burden of the disease was falling unfairly on the
developing world due to social disadvantage and ill-health.
“Eighty per cent of the burden of diabetes falls on the developing world and not the developed
world. And yet recent studies show poorer people in developed countries are two and a half
For further information:
Lyn Curtis, 0411 019 924, lcurtis@diabetesvic.org.au
times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and twice as likely to develop complications,” said
Professor Silink, the head of Paediatric Endocrinology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
Diabetes Australia’s Acting Chief Executive Greg Johnson said diabetes was now the world’s
fourth leading cause of death in the world, behind cancer, heart disease and infectious
diseases.
“The need for action is evident as the world has increasingly older populations and chronic
diseases like diabetes grow in epidemic proportions. We have to reduce the risk factors
including obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition and encourage people to enjoy a
healthy older age.”
Mr Johnson said the spread of the disease was alarming and worldwide:
Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes- related causes
Every 10 seconds two people develop diabetes
Every 30 seconds a limb is lost to diabetes
Each year a 7 million people develop diabetes
Each year 4 million deaths are attributable to
diabetes
An official United Nation’s Day, World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the
birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who is credited with the discovery of insulin.
For interview
Greg Johnson and Martin Silink will be available for comment at a media and stakeholder
event to mark World Diabetes Day at:
5.30pm Thursday 12 November
RACV Club
501 Bourke St Melbourne
NEWS 
