Funding boost for diabetes testing

Indigenous health services will receive $3.8 million over four years to improve and expand diabetes testing for Indigenous Australians.

The plan will be unveiled in next week’s budget and is aimed at helping Indigenous Australians to better better manage the disease.

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer account for about two-thirds of premature deaths among Indigenous people.

In 2009-10, the new funding will support state and Northern Territory-funded Aboriginal Medical Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services in up to 140 Indigenous communities where diabetes is prevalent.

By 2012-13, this number will rise to 170 communities.

Diabetes is diagnosed in Indigenous Australians at an estimated rate of almost 3 1/2 times that of other Australians.