Facts & statistics about type 1 diabetes in Australia 2025

Type 1 diabetes: the facts

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition. Anyone can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at any age.

Our immune system usually protects us from foreign cells, like viruses and bacteria. But in people with T1D, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. This is a problem because beta cells produce insulin, which are needed for life.

When the beta cells are destroyed by the immune system, the body can’t make insulin. Without insulin, glucose can’t move from your bloodstream into the cells of your body to give them the energy needed to function. When your pancreas can’t produce insulin, glucose levels in your bloodstream start to rise, and your body can’t function properly.

Over time, if left untreated, this high level of glucose in the blood can damage nerves, blood vessels and organs. Left untreated, it can be life threatening.

What causes type 1 diabetes (T1D)?

There’s a lot of ongoing research on what causes T1D, but so far there are no clear answers.

We do know the following about T1D and how it develops.

Pancreas failure is due to damage inflicted by your immune system.
Something triggered your immune system to attack your beta cells.
Certain genes put people at a greater risk for developing T1D, but aren’t the only factors involved – in fact, around 90% of people diagnosed with the condition have no family history of it
While there are no proven environmental triggers so far, researchers are looking for possible culprits, such as viral infections and toxins in our food or environment.

Facts about type 1 diabetes

There’s currently no cure for T1D, and its exact cause isn’t known.
T1D is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself.
People can be diagnosed with T1D at any age.
It’s been found that 90% of people living with T1D have no family history of the condition, but having a family history does put people at higher risk of developing T1D.
T1D was once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.

A young woman with a continuous glucose monitor searches through her fridge for a snack

Type 1 diabetes statistics in Australia

As of January 2026, more than 145,000 Australians live with T1D.
Currently, T1D accounts for around 10% of all diabetes in Australia.
Every year, around 3,000 children and adults are newly diagnosed with T1D.
About 8 people are diagnosed with T1D every day in Australia.
Around 89% of people living with T1D in Australia are 21 years old or older.
Men are slightly (1.3 times) more likely to be diagnosed with T1D than women.
Indigenous Australians are 1.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with T1D than non-Indigenous Australians.
Around 25,000 Australians are in the early stages of T1D and have yet to be diagnosed.

woman preparing for exercise, CGM on her upper arm

Facts about type 1 diabetes in children

T1D is one of the most common chronic childhood conditions.
For kids, the symptoms usually come on very quickly and are quite obvious, while in adults, the onset is slower.
In 2021, the peak age group for T1D diagnosis was 10–14 years old.
Around 13,000 Australian children and teenagers aged up to 19 years were living with T1D in 2021.

A laughing boy with type 1 diabetes is lying on the bed in his bedroom and having fun with his pet dog

Common questions about T1D

Can you catch T1D?

T1D isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it like a cold, the flu or chicken pox. Doctors know some things about T1D, but they still don’t know what causes the disease. One thing they are sure of: people living with T1D did not catch it from anyone else. Neither can you!

What's the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. For reasons not fully understood, the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas. Without insulin, glucose can’t move from the bloodstream into the cells of the body to provide them with the energy they need to function. People with T1D must take insulin manually, either through daily injections or from an insulin pump.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin, but either there’s not enough of it or the cells don’t use it well. Children and adults with type 2 diabetes don’t always need to take insulin, unlike people with T1D. Type 2 diabetes is often treated with other medication and by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.

Can I get T1D from eating too much sugar or junk food?

T1D isn’t caused by eating too much sugar or junk food. It’s an autoimmune disease, and it’s actually caused by the autoimmune process. The body’s immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin – so it’s nothing to do with diet at all!

Does insulin fix T1D?

Insulin isn’t a cure for T1D – it’s a treatment. Everyone has a pancreas, and everyone needs insulin to live. Everyone with T1D has to make up for the fact that their pancreas no longer makes insulin. They take insulin through injections or an insulin pump.

Scientists are trying to find ways to fix or replace the damaged pancreatic cells in people with T1D. They hope the new cells will once again produce insulin.

Can people with T1D eat cake and ice cream?

Yes, they can! There’s actually nothing you can’t eat if you’ve got T1D. As long as the person living with T1D covers it with insulin, they’re absolutely fine to be eating the same as everybody else.

Can you tell if a person has T1D just by looking at them?

Sometimes people living with T1D use devices called insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors, which they attach to their bodies. But the truth is they’re just like everybody else – it’s only their pancreases that doesn’t work right.

Can people with T1D lead normal lives?

They sure can! Living with T1D may not always be easy, but people with the disease can do anything they set their minds to. There are actors, doctors, racing car drivers, footballers, writers, and even Olympic athletes who live with T1D. (Check out some famous people around the world who live with T1D).

Can you get rid of T1D with a special diet?

You can’t get rid of diabetes because it’s not diet related. So if someone says they “don’t have diabetes anymore”, they’re talking about type 2 diabetes, which can be reversible in some cases.

For people who live with T1D, the only treatment available right now is insulin.

Can you get type 1 diabetes if you’re not overweight?

This is a common myth about T1D. Type 1 diabetes affects people of all shapes and sizes.

Is T1D only for kids?

Not at all! Around 8 Australians are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every day – and about half of them are adults.

Looking for more answers on life with T1D?

You may also be interested in these helpful resources:

What is type 1 diabetes (T1D)?

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition that can develop at any age. Find out more about it, including how it’s diagnosed and how it’s different from other types of diabetes.

someone holding a glucometer test strip to another person's finger to test their blood glucose levels

Learn about living with T1D

What you need to know about navigating life with type 1 diabetes at all ages and stages.

A group of teenagers talking and smiling

Guide to new diagnosis

If you’ve recently learned that you or your loved one has type 1 diabetes (T1D), we want you to know that you’re not alone. We understand that there’s a lot of information to take in — here’s where to begin.