The leading causes of death in Australia in 2011 were ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, dementia and alzheimer disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancersand chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[6] More than half of all consultations with GPs in Australia are in relation to chronic condition such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes.
The fastest growing chronic illness in Australia is diabetes.] There are approximately 100,000 new diagnoses every year. On average one Australian is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every five minutes.