Even though we hear about it every day, sometimes the effects of diabetes can be quite shocking. Especially when a story like this surfaces, concerning an 'extinction' of an entire population of people.

Professor Paul Zimmet, director of Monash University's International Diabetes Institute, told smh.com.au that indigenous people around the world, including Aborigines, Maori, Pacific Islanders and native American Indians, could become extinct if a diabetes epidemic is not halted.

"The idea of the extinction of indigenous populations by the end of the century is possible, and that includes our own indigenous people," Prof Zimmet said from Melbourne, where he is co-ordinating the two-day Diabetes in Indigenous People Forum which began yesterday.

"In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities between 20-30 per cent of adults have diabetes.

"It is a huge concern to us because we are seeing diabetes of adults, Type-2 diabetes, now in children and adolescents. By the time they are in their mid-20s they are having heart attacks."

Could there be a louder wake-up call?