Data released by the Australian Diabetes Council (ADC) this week revealed 4.94 per cent of people in Orange had diabetes, compared to the NSW average of 5.6 per cent.

Rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease are highest in regional areas, with Broken Hill topping the list with 10.09 per cent of people affected.

General practitioner Dr David Howe said Orange’s lower rate could be due to the city’s sports culture and good access to medical services.

“We have a very big uptake of fast foods and I think we have all the major fast food outlets here and they’re well patronised, but on the other hand we have a significant sports culture,” he said.

“It’s a particularly well-serviced health region, there is reasonable access to most medical services and there is access to a diabetic clinic.”

Dr Howe said obesity and a lack of exercise were the two biggest risk factors for diabetes.

According to the ADC data, the Orange City Council area has the least amount of diabetes across the central west, ahead of Dubbo at 6.41 per cent, Lithgow at 6.9 per cent, Mid-Western at 5.65 per cent and Bathurst at 4.99 per cent.

ADC head of research Dr Alan Barclay said the statistics for Orange reflected the genetic demographic of the city.

“It’s a reflection of the socio-economic status and ethnic mix,” he said.

“There’s a younger, wealthier more Caucasian population.

“Ethnicity has a very strong impact on it [diabetes diagnosis].”

However, Diabetes Orange Support Group president Elaine Hinchcliffe says the figures may not be an accurate reflection of the number of people in Orange with diabetes.

“I’m pretty sure there’s quite a few people walking around with diabetes who do not know they have it. It creeps up on you,” she said.

“Often, if they do know they have it, they try and deny it.”

Diabetes in Australia at a glance:

* Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease

* One person is diagnosed with diabetes every five minutes

* An estimated 290 Australians develop diabetes every day

* Diabetes is currently the seventh largest cause of death in Australia

* By 2016 diabetes is predicted to become the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia

* The total financial cost of type 2 diabetes is estimated at $3 billion a year

* Up to 60 per cent of cases of type 2 diabetes, the most common type, can be prevented

* There is no cure for type 1 or type 2 diabetes