Nearly one in five New Zealanders over the age of 15 have a blood disorder that precedes Type 2 diabetes, a finding described as "alarming" by experts.
The finding came from a University of Otago study involving blood sampling of 4721 Kiwis aged 15 years and older, which showed 19 per cent had glucose metabolism disorder. The pre-diabetes disorder typically leads to the disease.
Lead researcher Dr Kirsten Coppell from the university's Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research said she was shocked at the high prevalence of pre-diabetes.
"These data, when compared with the first measurements taken in 1967, provide convincing evidence that the prevalence of diabetes in New Zealand has increased over time. This is consistent with observations worldwide."
"It's impacting people younger and it's causing huge morbidity. People have got to realise that our lifestyle is killing us."
Eating less processed food and exercising more were positive lifestyle changes that could help improve the statistics.
Dr Coppell said the pre-diabetes rates added to an already-high national diabetes rate and should be a major concern to policymakers and health funders.
"The implications of increased diabetes-related morbidity, mortality and health care costs are considerable," she said.
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