Identification and Rationale for National Health Priority Area (NHPA)

The National Health Priority Areas (NHPA) program in Australia focuses on key health issues that impose a high burden on the healthcare system, including heart health, cancer, injury, mental health, and diabetes mellitus, with a particular emphasis on those areas where meaningful burden reduction is feasible (AIHW, 2021b; 2023). Diabetes mellitus is marked by elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream due to insufficient insulin production and/or resistance to its effects. Among the three categories of diabetes, namely type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form globally (Zheng et al., 2022); in Australia, it is a chronic condition occurring primarily in individuals over 45 years of age. It is distinguished by a relative shortage of insulin and resistance to its activity (WHO, 2023).