Guy Gets the Health Brief

Former PDGN President and current Vice-President Guy Barnett MP has been appointed Health Minister in the Tasmanian government. Guy was described in his local newspaper as a ‘Connoisseur of jelly beans’ who champions diabetes. “Newly appointed Health Minister, Guy Barnett, received a shock diagnosis more than two decades ago – and it’s an experience he […]

Diabetes Australia Before Parliament

In June, Diabetes Australia appeared before a public parliamentary committee of inquiry alongside the Australian Diabetes Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The Australian Parliament’s Health Committee called for the inquiry into diabetes with a closing date for submissions at the end of August. The committee is currently considering the evidence and a […]

Type 2 Diet Study

A low carbohydrate nutrition program delivered online has been shown to significantly improve blood sugar control in adults with T2D. The findings from the ‘T2Diet Study’ conducted at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, are significant as they demonstrate web-based dietary education can support people with type 2 diabetes, alongside standard care, and provide options for people living […]

Collaboration Brings Success

Diabetes Australia has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Health and Aged Care, Hon Mark Butler MP, that Fiasp insulin will continue to be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), a government scheme that subsidises the cost of medicines. Minister Butler has announced the new listing of Fiasp Penfill which contains the same insulin […]

Diabetes in Schools

A 6 million Australian Dollar (US 3.8m) diabetes in Schools program is hoped to help reduce the impact of type1 diabetes (T1D) for students, parents and schools. The programme should ensure that principals, teachers and school staff have the support, training and tools they need to support students with T1 diabetes at school. “A recent […]

Research News

India Study in India finds socioeconomic inequality in awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among adults. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29978-y Australia JDRF Australia and the Helmsley Trust have announced a combined additional AUS $12 million towards the continuation of the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study. https://www.miragenews.com/world-first-childhood-diabetes-study-extended-980714 Denmark A new study published in Diabetologia  (the journal of the […]

Parliamentary Friends of Nutrition Group Formed

A Parliamentary Group has been formed in the Australian Parliament to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition for a healthy life, and to highlight the areas of most need for equity, improved access and affordability to high-quality nutrition. The group is Co-Chaired by Senator Helen Polley (Labor) and Bridget Archer MP (Liberal), who have […]

Insulin Fears Allayed

Fear that fast-acting insulin ‘Fiasp’ used by approximately 14,000 people with Type 1 diabetes in Australia would be withdrawn have been allayed, at least temporarily. This followed an outcry from patients, politicians and advocacy groups. PDGN highlighted the issue on its social media pages at the time the news broke that the insulins would be […]

Close the Gap on Aboriginal Health

The Australian annual Close the Gap Day took place in March and among the many organisations involved, Diabetes Western Australia called for greater recognition of the disproportionate impact of diabetes on aboriginal communities in WA. Aboriginal Western Australians are at far greater risk of diabetes and diabetes-related complications than any other community in the State. […]

More News From Around the Globe: Celebrating Advocacy Success

CAPTION: Mr Matt Burnell MP, Mike Wilson OAM, The Hon Mark Butler MP, Senator Marielle Smith, Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Mr Steve Georganas and T1D advocates. Over the years there have been many advancements in diabetes technology that have helped of people with the condition, especially those living with type […]

Diabetes Australia wins Award

Diabetes Australia has won the Best Patient Campaign category at the 2022 Australian Patient Association Awards in Melbourne on August 18. The winning entry, “Heads Up on Diabetes,” was launched during National Diabetes Week in 2020. As previously reported at the launch it was a three-year campaign designed to highlight the daily mental health challenges […]

Meet the Aussies by Secretary General, Adrian Sanders

One Australian is diagnosed with diabetes every eight minutes, new research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found. Yet one more statistic to concern the Co-Chairs of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Diabetes Group, whom I met on-line with PDGN Patron, the Hon Judi Moylan AO. MPs, Graham Perrett and Rowan Ramsey […]

Research Corner

A Diabetes Link to Dementia https://www.timesnownews.com/health/diabetics-beware-study-says-high-blood-sugar-levels-could-give-you-dementia-article-92318905 Role of Socioeconomic Status in Amputation Rates with Comorbid PVD and Diabetes https://www.thecardiologyadvisor.com/home/topics/vascular-medicine/role-of-socioeconomic-status-amputation-rates-with-comorbid-pvd-and-diabetes Potential target for Type 1 diabetes treatment https://www.miragenews.com/potentia l-target-for-type-1-diabetes-treatment-824142/ Japanese Study Finds Health Benefits in Muscle Strengthening https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/13/755 Children with type 1 diabetes and their family members are at increased risk of mental health problems. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220801/Study-Children-with-type-1-diabetes-and-their-family-members-are-at-increased-risk-of-mental-health-problems.aspx […]

Changing Reasons for Type 2 Hospital Admissions

The reasons for people with type 2 diabetes being admitted to hospital are changing. This is according to an early press release from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) whose annual conference is taking place this month in Stockholm, Sweden (19-23 Sept). Details will be revealed at the event showing that traditional […]

New DART Chair

Diabetes Australia has announced the appointment of leading health advocate Lucy Brogden AM (Pictured) as the new Chair of DART, the Diabetes Australia Research Trust. The Trust, which manages the Diabetes Australia Research Program, supports around 60 research projects a year with funding allocations of more than Aus $3 million (US $2million) per annum. The […]

More News From Around the World

Diabetes Election Issues in Australia During the recent Australian election the two main parties vied with one another on polices for people with diabetes. Diabetes has maintained a high profile within Australian politics thanks to the work of elected members in the cross-party diabetes group and by Diabetes Australia. The latter made a statement during […]

Research News

Advocacy Action Wins New Research Funding Following pressure from MPs and patient groups for more investment in diabetes research and care, Australia’s Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced that $38 million Australian Dollars ($27.5 U.S.) has been made available for two new medical research centres. It is hoped they […]

More News From Around the Globe: New CGM device for Australians with diabetes

Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes. From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in the CGM Initiative will have the option of using the new Dexcom G6 CGM device, as the current Dexcom G5 […]

PDGN News: Thanks Guy

PDGN President Guy Barnett has stepped down from the role he was elected to in 2015 to concentrate on his Ministerial responsibilities in the Tasmanian Parliament. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 2016 and is now Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Resources, Minister for Trade, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for […]

More News from Around the World Continued

Priority Groups Targeted in New Aussie Diabetes Strategy PDGN Patron, Hon Judi Moylan AO, is delighted that the national diabetes strategy, she and others helped to produce was released on WDD 21 by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt. Its aim is to reduce the incidence and impacts of the disease […]

Aussie Pollies Debate 100 years of Insulin

Australian politicians, called pollies by their media, debated 100 years of insulin on a motion proposed by MPs, Rowan Ramsey and Graham Perrett, the Co-Chairs of the Australian Parliament’s Friends of Diabetes. In the debate many issues were raised with MPs from across the country taking part. Rowan Ramsey (right), a member of the ruling […]

Simple Idea Gets Results

CAPTION: “One in three Singapore citizens at risk of diabetes! – Gan Kim Yong, former Health Minister (Photo: Wikipedia) A study commissioned by the Health Promotion Board of Singapore and published last year said that “a key risk factor of diabetes in Singapore is a high intake of sugar, particularly from beverages”. The study was […]

Research News

Singapore research finds surgery for type 2 diabetes may restore nearly a decade to life expectancy https://www.medwirenews.com/diabetes/surgery-type-2-diabetes-restore-nearly-decade-life-expectancy/19148930 Children with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk for developing neurodevelopment disorders, with the risk greater for those with a high HbA1c, according to a study published in  Diabetologia. https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20210316/high-hba1c-in-type-1-diabetes-linked-to-increased-risk-for-neurodevelopment-disorders Austrian/Swiss research finds that consuming moderate amounts […]

Associations’ News

News from Associate Members of PDGN – national diabetes associations and other not-for-profits The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) has launched a new campaign to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with type 2 diabetes to re-engage with their diabetes healthcare teams and their diabetes management in 2021. Diabetes Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait […]

World Diabetes Day Report continued

Aussies Get Their Socks Off Again Every year there are more than 27,000 hospital admissions in Australia for diabetes-related foot ulcers. Many of these will lead to people having a limb, or part of a limb, amputated. However, a new pathway tool developed by Diabetes Australia and the Australian Diabetes Society, will help health professionals […]

Aussie Eye Screening Target

A University of Sydney study has found only half of people living with diabetes get recommended eye checks putting them at risk of vision loss and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age Australians. All people with diabetes are at risk of diabetes related retinopathy which causes damage to the back […]

Research Corner

University of Exeter and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust research revealed at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2020 on-line event, suggests screening could give two years’ extra type 2 diabetes alert. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9143/presentation/1514 The findings from a recent study by a University of Buffalo researcher and others could prove to […]

Australia: Type 2 Guidelines for Young People

Guidelines for identifying, preventing and managing Type 2 diabetes among young people in Australian and New Zealand have been published for the first time. Type 2 diabetes in children has been rare but numbers are rising. Consequently, this is the first-time guidance for children and teenagers that PDGN has heard about. Up until now healthcare professionals […]

Australia: Advocacy Success

CAPTION: PDGN Patron, Hon. Judi Moylan AO (glasses, centre left) with Professor Liz Davis on her immediate left and Professor Greg Johnson on the far left with participants at the launch of the Diabetes in Schools Program at St Peter’s Primary School Western Australia. Advocacy action by Parliamentarians and patient groups in Australia has brought […]

Another Successful Pollie Pedal for Diabetes

*Pollie is Australian slang for Politician CAPTION: Greg Johnson CEO Diabetes Australia, Guy Barnett MP, Caroline Wells CEO Diabetes Tasmania and Michael Bailey CEO Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry The 15th annual Tasmanian Pollie Pedal, held in February, was another great success raising just over Aus $49,000 – exceeding their target of $45,000. The […]

News From Around the World

Morocco The Moroccan Diabetes League celebrated World Diabetes Day in the city of LAAYOUN in southern Morocco. Advocacy Action: Start planning now for World Diabetes Day 14th November 2020. Malta Thanks to campaigning MPs, an €800,000 investment will see 2,000 Type 2 diabetes patients on the Island, who previously paid for their insulin, receive it free […]

Research Corner

Much of the research and studies make for grim reading with the implications for people and health care systems severe. All the more important to seek allies who can share and add force to your advocacy in order to seek improvements to prevention, encourage early diagnosis, and the best treatments. Canadian children not being diagnosed […]

News From Around The World

New Zealand – New Type 2 prevention campaign launched. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2019/07/new-campaign-aims-to-curb-new-zealand-s-type-2-diabetes-problem.html How Goa’s digital approach to diabetes can improve universal healthcare https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/diabetes-in-india-digital-care USA – Type 2 amputations on the rise, a worrying report from the States. https://www.inquirer.com/health/amputation-increasing-diabetes-surgery-insulin-20190616.html Advocacy Action – what is the trend in your country. Can you ask your Government what the estimated cost […]

Research Corner

Much of the research and studies make for grim reading with the implications for people and health care systems severe. All the more important to seek allies who can share and add force to your advocacy in order to seek improvements to prevention, encourage early diagnosis, and the best treatments. New study by Australian researchers […]

News From Australia

More support for children living with type 1 diabetes The Australian Government will invest $6 million to better support children living with diabetes, with the launch of a new program across Australian schools. The Type 1 Diabetes Management in Schools program will support around 6,000 children living with the condition by providing a training and […]

Aussie Parties in a Bidding War

In February the Australian Federal Government announced that scientists searching for the elusive cure for type 1 diabetes will get an extra $54.5 million in funding to help the more than 120,000 children and adults in the country with the chronic condition. Almost immediately the opposition Labor Party pledged to give $ 50 million to […]

Welcome Tasmania

Congratulations to PDGN President Guy Barnett MP on helping bring a new cross-party group to life, this time in the Tasmanian Parliament. The group was set up last year and launched on the lawns of Parliament House in Hobart with plans to have a number of events to get the message of Diabetes out into […]

News on Sugar Taxes

In our last newsletter we reported on PDGN Vice-President Dr Mustafa Brahimi’s successful campaign to persuade the Moroccan Parliament to adopt a sugar tax. The issue is gaining ground around the world but support is by no means universal. In South East Asia the question is being asked whether a sugar tax will solve the […]

RAISING THE PROFILE

Australian politicians – or ‘Pollies’ as they call them down under – joined Diabetes Australia to launch the ‘It’s About Time’ campaign. The week-long campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and early treatment for all types of diabetes. For those ‘Pollies’ who got involved, like the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary […]

HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Australian Government announced on the 1st April 2017 that people with type 1 diabetes will have access to free glucose monitoring devices under a federal government program. The $54 million program has been praised as a ‘life-changer’ by Diabetes Australia (DA). “This will benefit around 4,000 Australian families with a child or young person […]