National Diabetes Week

With hundreds of thousands of Victorians diagnosed with diabetes each year, here at BHN, we take a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to our clients who live with diabetes. To acknowledge and raise awareness of Diabetes Week (13 – 19 July), we sat down with our credentialed diabetes educator, Marg, who took us through the theme for this year, our multidisciplinary approach and team at BHN, as well as some critical risk factors to be aware of.

Marg, can you tell us about this year’s theme for Diabetes Week and what that means for us here at BHN?

The theme for this year for Diabetes Week is ‘Check today for a healthier tomorrow,’ and that is for people who have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes and also for those who have. Currently, we have over 400,000 Victorians who have been diagnosed with diabetes, and another 125,000 Victorians who have not, or who are yet to be diagnosed. Sometimes, it can take up to seven years for a person to be diagnosed with diabetes.

What does it mean to ‘get checked’ for diabetes?

Getting checked for diabetes is usually done through your GP during an annual cycle-of-care check. This typically involves a blood glucose level, or what we call an HbA1c – this is a measure of diagnosis. Additionally, there are several other variables that contribute to this check, such as your weight, cholesterol, and lipids. Initially, many things will be done first by your GP, and then you’ll be referred to a diabetes educator (like myself) or a dietitian. From there, we can support you in understanding the diagnosis, developing a care plan, and helping you go through the screening for risk factors.

Tell us about the multidisciplinary approach we have at Better Health Network

Better Health Network has a multidisciplinary approach that includes credentialed diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, psychologists, exercise physiologists, and exercise classes. This team also assists you in engaging with programs within our organisation that will support you in managing your condition and assist you with your annual screening.
A multidisciplinary approach, especially in the case of diabetes, is particularly important, as this condition has numerous facets that impact your care. Our team comprises a diverse group of professionals to assist you on your journey. We don’t just focus on one specific area; rather, we consider your condition and health holistically, as well as the screening, prevention, and risk factors that may arise later in a diagnosis.

Lastly, can you tell us about some of the risk factors associated with diabetes?

To start, we have our eyes and our vision. Our eyes need to be checked yearly. This is particularly important to prevent retinopathy and other conditions associated with elevated glucose levels.
We’ve also got our feet, which, of course, are essential for mobility. Our feet should be checked annually by a podiatrist, who will perform a comprehensive neurovascular assessment to ensure that our blood flow, nerves, and sensitivity are functioning correctly. With risk factors like these, the earlier we conduct these assessments and identify any abnormalities, the sooner we can support you.
Dental is often something that’s overlooked, but it’s really important in the management of diabetes and having an annual or regular check.
Our kidneys are also a vital part of our functioning.  Elevated glucose levels can affect how our kidneys filter and function, so it’s really important that we have regular, annual kidney checks.
Also, emotional health. To be engaged and to understand that diabetes can be a challenging condition to live with means we should be monitoring our mental health with our GP, a counsellor or psychologist with screening tools.
Finally, it’s essential to note that a significant risk factor is managing and supporting your cardiovascular health. This status is closely related to your diabetes status. There are crucial things here, like prevention of stroke, heart attacks, and monitoring your blood pressure that are important to get checked regularly.

So, whether you might be currently diagnosed with diabetes, or you believe you’re at risk, or unsure, it’s time to check today for a healthier tomorrow.

You can learn more about how we can support here.