115,000 New Zealanders unaware they are diabetic

Up to 115,000 New Zealanders have undiagnosed diabetes, risking long-term damage from the disorder, Diabetes New Zealand (DNZ) said today.

"These people are at risk of long-term damage from the complications of diabetes such as heart disease, blindness and kidney damage and lower-limb amputation," DNZ president Russell Finnerty said.

Mr Finnerty urged people to ask their doctor for a blood test at their next appointment.

The warning comes as DNZ gears up for its November 19-25 awareness week, with the slogans "Be aware" and "Eat well, walk well, stay well".

Alarmingly, 91 per cent of 115,000 known diabetes sufferers had the type 2 disorder, most likely to affect Maori and Pacific Island people, Mr Finnerty said in a statement.

Typically type 2 diabetes develops in European people aged 40-plus, or Maori, Pacific Island and Asian people aged 30-plus.

People who were inactive, overweight, had a family history of diabetes, had given birth to large babies (4kg-plus), had high glucose levels in pregnancy, and had high cholesterol or blood pressure were possible candidates for type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes affects about 11,000 people, is more common in European people and usually developed in their childhood or teenage years.

Gestational diabetes occurred in some pregnant women, and is one of the leading causes of congenital abnormalities, stillbirths and miscarriages.

- NZPA