Diabetes: the light at the end of the tunnel looks brighter

Diabetes is at last newsworthy, and not only in the medical press. Its social and economic impact has increasingly become the subject of national discussion and ....ction in many countries. During the recent United States elections, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, excitedly declared, "You know, we could save $14 billion a year by reforming what we do on diabetes ...", and, "You can save money and improve health by moving to preventive care".' With a strong and powerful diabetes lobby in the United States, this philosophy could well turn into solid public health policy. To mark National Diabetes Week (21-27 July), it is worth reflecting on the changes that have taken place in diabetes in Australia over the past 12 months.