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November focus - Diabetes Care

World Diabetes Day

online community engagement

Thank you to everyone who took part in our World Diabetes Day 2025 MySay survey. Most respondents showed strong understanding of diabetes and where to access care, and most said it’s easy to find diabetes information usually through their GP or online. However, fewer respondents were clear on how allied health supports diabetes care and how often HbA1c checks should happen. People also told us that cost, access to practitioners, wait times, and getting lifestyle support can make access to good diabetes care harder. Lastly, there was strong interest in prevention and universal awareness of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM).

Based on what you said, we will use CHN programs such as the Multidisciplinary Approach to Diabetes Care (MADC) to share simple, practical messages on how allied health helps (eyes, feet, mental health, exercise and nutrition) and why regular blood sugar tests monitoring matters. We will also work with primary care and allied health providers to understand how they are using and directing people to lifestyle prevention supports and reliable consumer information from Diabetes Australia and the NDSS.

The survey is now closed. Thanks for participating.

Diabetes care and MADC

Capital Health Network received PHN funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care to commission multidisciplinary teams in small or solo general practice in support of chronic conditions and priority needs in the area. Integrating allied health professionals into small or solo general practices is achievable with thoughtful planning around space and resources. The Multidisciplinary Approach to Diabetes Care pilot program emerged after consultations with national and state allied health organisations, consumer groups, and general practices. The program offers adults at risk of diabetes complications free access to a multidisciplinary allied health team through 3 ACT general practices.

Patients in the program can receive free services from a Credentialed Diabetes Educator, Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist, and Podiatrist. They also have free access to a community gym. The program aims to improve diabetes care, reduce financial burdens, offer preventative care, and enhance patient health literacy and self-management skills. The program is available to patients of Conder Surgery and Gungahlin Medical and Surgical Centre. Patients who enrol in the comprehensive program receive allied healthcare at Diabetes Australia (Turner), The Walking Clinic (Lyneham & Garran), Accelerate Physiotherapy (Jamison & Garran), Canberra Allied Health (Aranda) and EQUIPD Allied Health (Chifley).

References

  • Magliano, D. J., Chen, L., Morton, J. I., Buyadaa, O., Salim, A., & Shaw, J. E. (2024). Changes in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Australia, 2005–2019, overall and by socio‐demographic characteristics: a population‐based study.Medical Journal of Australia,221(9). https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52461.
  • Diabetes: Australian facts, Summary. (n.d.). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/diabetes/contents/summary#Treatment

Facts

In 2021 estimated 1 in 20 (5.1% or just over 1.3 million) Australians were living with diagnosed diabetes (prevalence).

In 2021, almost 1 in 5 Australians aged 80–84 were living with diabetes, compared to less than 1% of those under 40.

Incidence of type 2 diabetes in Australian adults declined during 2010–2019 across all age, sex, socio‐economic disadvantaged and remoteness groups.

Useful resources

Capital Health Network acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the country on which we work and live, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders past and present.