The improvements to diabetes care over the years should be celebrated, according to an expert who visited Albury on Wednesday to discuss this progress.
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Stephen Twigg, the Kellion Professor of Endocrinology and Stan Clark Chair in Diabetes, said major advances had been made in diet, exercise and medication for people with the condition.
“There’s more than 300 combinations under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for type 2 diabetes treatments these days,” he said.
“It’s the role really of the experienced doctor and health care team to communicate with the patient as to what are the best evidence-based options for that person, and let the person of course then make rational decisions about what they believe are the areas that they would like to prioritise.”
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Professor Twigg spoke to health workers and the public in presentations organised by the Albury-Wodonga Diabetes Support Group.
“When we’re dealing with chronic diseases, let’s face it, people mainly have to self-manage and so it’s very important to understand where a person’s coming from with their life and lifestyle if they have diabetes,” he said.
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital department of endocrinology head said programs could vary across the states and between metropolitan and regional centres.
“In many chronic diseases that occur in Australia we are struggling with this tyranny of distance,” he said.
“Telehealth provides part of the answer, it’s not as optimal as the face to face interaction.
“Developing rapport, trust, mutual understanding and goal setting … it’s often a step forward and two back or vice-versa and often it’s a marathon and not a sprint.”
Albury-Wodonga Diabetes Support Group president Jill Craig, who has lived with diabetes for more than 50 years, thanked Professor Twigg for his visit.
“I’m sure we’re all going to learn something that will help us in our own journey,” she said.
“You’ve got to avoid as many complications as you can, keep healthy, keep fit, keep walking.”
Professor Twigg said research involving people who had managed diabetes for decades might help “unlock more of the secrets” why some people didn’t develop complications.
“It’s not purely lifestyle and behavioural, there’s clearly some biological protective factors we could learn more about,” he said.
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