Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Australia. The establishment of a register of diabetic children aged 0 to 19 years in the Illawarra area

Abstract

A survey to establish a register of diabetic children aged 0 to 19 years has been carried out in the Illawarra area of New South Wales. Four independent methods of case ascertainment were used. Fifty-three patients with diabetes mellitus were identified, with a prevalence of the disease of 69/100 000. Ten patients with diabetes were diagnosed in 1984, giving an annual incidence of 13/100 000. No significant seasonality in onset of diabetes was demonstrated.