The first Victorian diabetes prevalence figures were release 10 years ago. A decade on and there is a marked increase over all of Victoria. But what about our region? (more…)

Medicare benefits are available for group allied health services for patients with type 2 diabetes in addition to the 5 individual allied health services available where patients are managed under a Team Care Arrangement. (more…)

The government has removed funding for diabetes prevention in the 40-49  age group – but did you know Life! is not just for 50+ year olds? Extra funding has also been made available for practice case-finding activities to identify patients eligible for referral to Life! (more…)

People with diabetes were once advised to eat special diabetes food products such as diabetic jams, sugar-free chocolates and diabetic cakes. These products can be costly, often don’t taste very nice and the artificial sweeteners used can cause diarrhoea if consumed in excess. (more…)

We provide DAFNE education for clients with type 1 diabetes to teach carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment to suit their lifestyle. To further support people with type 1 diabetes, Carmen Goldsbrough is now working with our dietetics team. (more…)

The National Gestational Diabetes Register has just been established as an initiative of the Australian Government. Over 17,000 women in Australia develop gestational diabetes each year. One in two of them may progress later in life to develop type 2 diabetes, and their babies also have increased health risks. (more…)

We’ve developed a clinic to coordinate care around diabetes annual reviews. This clinic is based on self-management principles, including a collaborative approach to care, setting realistic goals and preventing duplication of care. This clinic will improve communication between practices and the BCH diabetes team. (more…)

State and federal Governments have extended funding to continue diabetes prevention programs beyond 1 July 2011. Let’s keep up the good work! (more…)

A six-hour active learning module, developed by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, is available to complete online. It aims to improve outcomes for patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Research has found that lifestyle interventions can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by up to 58%. (more…)

Patients who don’t tick all the boxes to enrol in a facilitated diabetes prevention program or can’t make a group don’t need to miss out.

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Over two thousand employees have attended a BDNH WorkHealth check since its inception. Have any of your patients? (more…)

Yes, entry to the LIFE diabetes prevention program keeps changing. I have recently been appointed our ‘go to person’ for all things diabetes prevention. If I don’t know, I will find out. (more…)

Sheree Rennie runs DETA, a diabetes education and consultancy service. Sheree provides diabetes presentations and education sessions to schools, business, organisations and the general community. (more…)

The Australasian Peers for Progress Diabetes Project (PfP-DP) – a peer support program for people with type 2 diabetes – is coming to Ballarat. (more…)

We asked 23 GPs, practice nurses and practice managers how to improve diabetes prevention. Here’s what you said. (more…)

Navigating the maze of referral pathways for diabetes prevention can be a headache. Heather Campbell and I have put together an easy-to-use tool (similar to the Mental Health Support Tool) to help. (more…)

The DAFNE (dose adjustment for normal eating) program aims to enable individuals with Type 1 diabetes the ability to have a flexible lifestyle. By using equations, patients can adapt insulin doses appropriate to lifestyle choices to ensure more predictable blood glucose levels, giving the individual a greater sense of personal control. (more…)

It is strongly recommended to discuss blood glucose meters with your diabetes educator prior to purchasing. Diabetes educators can advise you on the best meter/s to suit your needs and teach all aspects of blood glucose monitoring. (more…)

A new booklet for people with diabetes was launched at Ballarat’s recent Diabetes Expo. The booklet includes a directory of services and support information for diabetes sufferers in the Central Highlands Region. (more…)

Available diabetes guidelines rarely address specific care issues for the elderly, yet diabetes in older people is our most common chronic condition and one of our most challenging health problems. (more…)

Type 1 diabetes is the most common endocrine disease in childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately, diagnosis can be delayed resulting in children being admitted to hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). (more…)

In the last twelve months a number of cardiovascular outcome studies have been completed, all primarily designed to assess the cardiovascular benefits of intensive glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. Rather than answer this definitively, these studies have raised further questions about the benefits of tight glycaemic control. (more…)

This year BCHC and BHS have began running the Life! program in Ballarat, which is a lifestyle modification program aimed at preventing diabetes in people 50 and over. The Life! program is funded by Diabetes Victoria to target the estimated 500,000 Victorians who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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Management of Type 2 diabetes is becoming more aggressive in terms of targets for treatment. It is also becoming more complex, as new classes of agents for the treatment of this condition have recently become available. This article focuses on a new treatment, Incretin Therapy. (more…)