Disability rates twice as high for Australians with diabetes

People with diabetes are twice as likely to have a disability as people without diabetes, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, Diabetes and disability: impairments, activity limitations, participation restrictions and comorbidities, also shows that more serious disabilities are more common in people with diabetes.

Disability refers to any impairment, activity limitation or participation restriction. This could range from minor restrictions in everyday activities to profound sensory loss such as sight. More serious disabilities are described as severe or profound core activity limitations-meaning that a person sometimes or always needs help with one or more core activities of daily living-activities related to mobility, communication and self-care.