The Government has launched a National Diabetes Roadmap and will change how type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, a move it says will identify people earlier and reduce complications.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the updated diagnostic threshold, to take effect by July, will mean about 34,500 people currently classified with prediabetes will meet the criteria for diabetes. The Ministry says the change will align with international standards, but the specific test thresholds were not included in the release.

The roadmap responds to the scale and cost of diabetes, which affects an estimated 348,000 people and cost $2.1 billion last year. Without change, that cost is forecast to double by 2040. A Health New Zealand review completed in November 2025 called for a more coordinated approach across the system.

Over the next five to ten years, the plan focuses on leadership, earlier intervention, improved access to care, workforce capacity and technology, and addressing the drivers of diabetes. Actions flagged include improving access to foot and retinal screening, expanding community-based support, growing and supporting the diabetes workforce, and exploring new technologies for managing the condition.

An oversight group chaired by Sir Jim Mann has been set up to champion and drive implementation.

The change in diagnosis is likely to bring more people into formal care, screening and treatment pathways, increasing demand on general practice and screening services. The Government says workforce growth and better use of technology are part of its response.

The roadmap highlights inequities in preventable complications, particularly for Māori, Pacific and South Asian communities. Brown said the aim is earlier identification, better access to effective treatment, and more consistent prevention and support so people can get the right care at the right time.