The national diabetes epidemic is pushing hospitals to the brink of collapse, with up to 1/3 of ­patients in urban centres affected by the condition and di­alysis clinics at absolute capacity in Central Australia, where four out of 10 Aboriginal people have the chronic disease.

The type 2 diabetes epidemic – evolving over three decades – is ­escalating in an alarming manner, with children as young as four years old its latest victims.

“The emergence of type 2 diabetes in children in Central Australia is a catastrophe,” said NT Health’s Dr James Dowler, acting director of pediatrics at Alice Springs Hospital. “It’s going to ruin lives, it’s going to impact ­future generations,” he added.

“I don’t think people are aware of exactly how big this issue is,” said Elna Ellis, head of endocrinology at Alice Springs Hospital and chair of the NT Diabetes Clinical Network.

Special investigation: The national diabetes epidemic is pushing hospitals to the brink of collapse, with up to a third of ­patients in urban centres affected by the condition and kidney di­alysis clinics at absolute capacity in Central Australia, where four out of 10 Aboriginal people have the chronic disease. Story led by @NC_Robinson