More than half of Western Sydney’s population is overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. (1).
This World Diabetes Day, Western Sydney Diabetes is calling on health professionals to consider annual HbA1c testing for all at-risk adults – under MBS Item 73839.
Remember risk is much higher for people who:
- Are overweight or obese
- Have a family history of diabetes
- Are from Asian, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds
- Live in lower socioeconomic areas
Make it your WDD action: Ask every adult about their last HbA1c test. If it’s been over a year—test today.
Why Prevention Matters
Western Sydney has some of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in NSW, with 13% of adults living with diabetes and another 25% have prediabetes. Many people are at high risk and don’t know it. Early identification and small lifestyle changes can delay or prevent diabetes altogether.
Responding to this Health Crisis
Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD), WentWest and our partners are committed to tackling this growing health crisis by increasing awareness, improving early detection, and providing targeted support to at-risk individuals. The goals are to slow disease progression, reduce the number of people at risk, and enhance long-term health outcomes for those already diagnosed.
A range of free resources on diabetes management and prevention are available here
The 2kg Challenge
In response to the health crisis, Western Sydney Changing Diabetes collaboration designed the 2kg Challenge: a healthy living initiative that encourages people to improve their health through small, manageable lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by up to 30 per cent.
The Western Sydney Primary Health Network, WentWest, has thrown its support behind the 2kg Challenge, launching it in almost 120 GP practices across the region.
“It’s not about big changes overnight – it’s about making simple choices that add up over time,” WentWest CEO Andrew Newton said.
“WentWest is proud to be a part of Western Sydney Diabetes to support this initiative and help our community take action to prevent type 2 diabetes. Every bit counts and together we can make a real difference.”