Virtual Map Provides Bird’s Eye View of Australian Diabetes Landscape

Diabetes Australia has set itself a courageous mission – to turn the tide on the issue of diabetes in Australia. Collaboration is an important part of achieving this and Diabetes Australia CEO Matt O’Brien has looked to Microsoft for help.

Diabetes Australia set out to paint a picture of the diabetes landscape across the country, creating a national resource for policy makers, politicians, health professionals and, most importantly, local communities.

The result is the Australian Diabetes Map, the only resource of its kind that illustrates the spread and penetration of diabetes.

Using Microsoft's Virtual Earth map application, the Map allows users to select a specific geographic area for information about people registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), a federal government initiative managed by Diabetes Australia. It also shows the location of services, including hospitals and NDSS sub agent pharmacies. Diabetes Australia intends to expand this feature to include diabetes educators, general practitioners and specialist diabetes centres.

Users can see the reach of diabetes in their communities and make comparisons to other areas. The Map not only shows the number of people with diabetes, but the type of diabetes and age and gender distribution.

"Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease – 275 people are affected every day and the number of new cases each year would fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground," Matt O’Brien says.

"Our aim is to educate people about the reach of diabetes and how they can help turn the disease around for individuals, communities and on a national level. The Diabetes Map is an important part of this process. It is already a great tool and we are working hard, with Microsoft’s support, to make it even better."

The Map shows 707,824 Australians have type 2 diabetes; 128,583 have type 1 diabetes and 14,189 women have gestational diabetes.