Early diabetes detection at community events
Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD) marked National Diabetes Week with community events promoting early detection, prevention and healthy living.
Health professionals and community members came together to discuss how type 2 diabetes can be identified earlier and how people can reduce their risk of developing the condition and its complications.
NSW Health estimates around 13 per cent of adults in Western Sydney are living with type 2 diabetes, with rates continuing to rise over the past decade.
Auburn GP Dr Noussair said prediabetes was increasingly being diagnosed in younger people.
“Increasingly, we're seeing people develop prediabetes at younger ages, often while they're working, raising families and feeling completely well,” he said.
Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood when the body can’t make insulin, or enough insulin or is not effectively using the insulin it does make.
Over time, high glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, resulting in long term health difficulties including heart, kidney, eye and foot complications.
A key event was the free community forum, See It Early, Act Early: From Gestational Diabetes to Eye Complications and Prediabetes Care, held in Auburn on 14 July. The forum brought together local health experts and community members to discuss diabetes prevention, screening, early detection and strategies to reduce the risk of long-term complications.
The event built on the 2025 Auburn Diabetes Initiative to increase awareness of diabetes prevention, management and early detection across the community.
Diabetes Prevention Officer from WSD, Aruni Ratnayake, said she hoped the forum helped inform people about how they can make small changes that can have lifelong benefits.
"Prediabetes is a condition where early action can genuinely change the future," Ms Ratnayake said.
"This forum helped people understand their own risk, recognise when to be screened, and leave with practical, evidence-based strategies to protect their long-term health.
Also in Diabetes Week, WSD hosted an information stall at Workers Blacktown, providing practical advice and resources on diabetes prevention and management. Visitors explored an interactive display showing the sugar content of common foods and drinks and received information about reducing their diabetes risk.
WSD is encouraging adults to speak with their GP about a HbA1c blood test and, if diagnosed with prediabetes, to enrol in the 2kg Challenge.
Western Sydney Diabetes is a collaborative initiative led by Western Sydney Local Health District and the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, in partnership with Diabetes Australia.