The diabetes fight is going up a notch or two.
South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) is leading the fight against diabetes by rolling out new services and staff across the region to support more than 55,000 local people affected by the disease.
Head of Macarthur Diabetes Service, Professor David Simmons said the upcoming launch of new diabetes services coincides with World Diabetes Day (WDD).
But the launch will also highlight how people living with diabetes in the local area will have access to a range of services at Liverpool, Campbelltown, Bankstown, Fairfield, Camden and Bowral and District hospitals over the next four years.
Prof Simmons said the new services will support both children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and rarer forms of diabetes.
“Paediatric services at Campbelltown will be expanded with greater access to doctors, dieticians, nurses and social workers,’’ Prof Simmons said.
More than 15,401 Liverpool residents will be living with diabetes by 2021. There will be even more in Macarthur – 20,055, and 15,687 in Fairfield.
“Future services will also extend to include Liverpool and Bankstown- Lidcombe Hospitals,’’ Prof Simmons said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Our teams at Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown-Lidcombe, Bowral & District and Campbelltown Hospitals are being expanded to address needs amongst the growing number of women affected by gestational diabetes.[/social_quote]
“Some women require additional support around their blood glucose level monitoring and education on healthy eating and physical activity.
“Our aim is to reduce their risk of complications during pregnancy and birth.
“We will also be commencing new pre-pregnancy clinics for women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who are planning for their pregnancy.
“SWSLHD is at the forefront of this model of care, being one of the few clinics in Sydney which offer an endocrinologist, dietitian and educator all under the one roof,” he said.
SWSLHD is also leading the way with the commencement of the Oz-DAFNE Type 1 diabetes education program.
“We know that Type 1 diabetes requires substantial skills and knowledge to be able to vary insulin injections on a day by day basis, and Oz-DAFNE has been shown to reduce hypoglycaemia (low glucose) and other complications.
“We are delighted that we are now one of the few services in NSW to offer this best practice approach,” Prof Simmons said.
SNAPSHOT
WHAT: Launch of new diabetes services in South Western Sydney Local Health District
WHEN: 11am, Monday, November 14 at Liverpool Hospital, Conference Room 1, T&RM Education Centre.
Dr Nick Kormas has been running an excellent service in Camden for years but struggles for financial, government and health service support. He is saving the health system a lot of money by reducing, and in my case total dependency of insulin. I hope this “new” service is supporting Dr Nick and his wonderful staff.