A.C.N. 072 405 139 A.B.N 68 072 405 139
Unit 17K, 2 King Street, Deakin ACT 2600 / PO Box 324, Curtin ACT 2605
Tel: (02) 6232 5480 Fax: (02) 6232 5484
Media Release
November 6, 2009
BROADER APPROACH RECOMMENDED FOR
TREATING INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES
New treatment guidelines recommending a broader approach to the treatment of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Australians with type 2 diabetes are currently being relayed to rural and
remote health practitioners around Australia to help address the alarming incidence of the
disease.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians currently have the fourth highest rate of type 2
diabetes in the world and it is estimated that between 10 and 30 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders have the disease – a figure which is around four times higher than that for non-
Indigenous Australians.
Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Health Education Foundation, Don Perlgut, says the new
treatment and management guidelines for type 2 diabetes with respect to Indigenous Australians
is the focus of the final program in a four part series developed by the Rural Health Education
Foundation to be broadcast by satellite and web-cast live around Australia on November 10.
This program will be introduced by the Hon Warren Snowdon, MP, Minister for Indigenous Health,
Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery.
Dr Alex Brown, Head of the Centre for Indigenous Vascular and Diabetes Research for the Baker
IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Alice Springs, says type 2 diabetes represents a major public
health problem for Indigenous Australians because of the much earlier age of onset within the
population.
He says: “However, if rural and remote health practitioners can be updated about new treatment
guidelines which can improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians, this can help prevent
complications such as a higher risk of heart attack or stroke, eye disease, kidney disease and
nerve damage, which may result in traumatic injury, infection and possible limb amputation.”
Dr Brown adds that the risk of developing diabetes related complications also results in a
significant burden of disease in terms of mortality, hospitalisations and a range of financial and
human costs.
Death rates in Indigenous communities are believed to be up to seventeen times higher than that
of non-Indigenous Australians - mainly due to high levels of cardiovascular disease and kidney
disease associated with diabetes.
Chronic diseases such as diabetes and those related to it account for 59% of the difference in
mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, making it imperative for health
services, particularly in rural and remote areas to adopt a comprehensive and culturally
appropriate response to risk factors and management in primary health care.
A.C.N. 072 405 139 A.B.N 68 072 405 139
Unit 17K, 2 King Street, Deakin ACT 2600 / PO Box 324, Curtin ACT 2605
Tel: (02) 6232 5480 Fax: (02) 6232 5484
-2-
The Rural Health Education Foundation’s program explores the question of how diabetes can be
prevented in Indigenous communities and the issues around diet, obesity, physical activity, poor
living conditions and low socioeconomic status. It focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to the
detection and diagnosis of diabetes.
It also examines evidence based approaches to the management of diabetes, hypoglycaemic
control and diabetes-related complications among Indigenous Australians
The new type 2 diabetes treatment and management guidelines match recommended patient
treatment with the latest evidence and research and have been endorsed by the National Health
and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and funded by the Australian Government Department
of Health and Ageing.
The series of four programs on the new Guidelines are broadcast by satellite television and web-
cast by the Foundation, providing
an educational
package for all rural and remote health
practitioners which includes key practice points and goals for patient treatment.
Each
broadcast/webcast
includes
live panel discussions
with leading clinicians in the area of
diabetes as well as filmed case studies which showcase innovative approaches to best practice
prevention, diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes.
The final program in the series focusing on diabetes in relation to Indigenous Australians will air
on Tuesday November 10. Following that, complete DVD copies of the whole series will be
available.
Released for the Rural Health Education Foundation by Kardan Consulting
For further media information please contact:
Karen Bristow on (02) 9967 3245 and 0414 320 146 or karen@kardan.com.au
Dr Alex Brown is available for interviews; and
CEO of the Rural Health Education Foundation, Don Perlgut is available for interviews in
relation to the work of the Foundation.
ABOUT THE RURAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Rural Health Education Foundation is the premier body for the continuing education of rural and remote
health practitioners around Australia.
A not-for-profit independent organisation, the Foundation provides quality broadcast television programs
through part funding from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and the voluntary participation of
Australia’s leading medical experts.
Professionals can access these programs via satellite television, the internet as web-cast, web-streamed or
podcast resources, on DVD and other television broadcast services. Go to www.rhef.com.au
A.C.N. 072 405 139 A.B.N 68 072 405 139
Unit 17K, 2 King Street, Deakin ACT 2600 / PO Box 324, Curtin ACT 2605
Tel: (02) 6232 5480 Fax: (02) 6232 5484
DIABETES FACT SHEET
(Source: Diabetes Australia)
WHAT IS DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic disease. This means that it lasts for a long time, often for someone's whole
life.
For our bodies to work properly we need to convert glucose (sugar) from food into energy. A
hormone called insulin is essential for the conversion of glucose into energy. In people with
diabetes, insulin is no longer produced or not produced in sufficient amounts by the body.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with diabetes. While
it usually affects older adults, more and more younger people, even children, are getting type 2
diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin but it is not produced in the amount your
body needs and it does not work effectively.
Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although there
is a strong genetic predisposition, the risk is greatly increased when associated with lifestyle
factors such as high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, insufficient physical activity, poor diet
and the classic ‘apple shape’ body where extra weight is carried around the waist.
While there is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes, the disease can be managed through lifestyle
modifications and medication.
CAUSE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
While there is no single cause of type 2 diabetes, there are well-established risk factors. Some of
these can be changed and some cannot. You are at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes if you:
have a family history of diabetes
are older (over 55 years of age ) - the risk increases as we age
are over 45 years of age and are overweight
are over 45 years of age and have high blood pressure
are over 35 years of age and are from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
background
are over 35 years of age and are from Pacific Island, Indian subcontient or
Chinese cultural background
are a women who has given birth to a child over 4.5 kgs (9 lbs), or had
gestational diabetes when pregnant, or had a condition known as Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome.
SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
In type 2 diabetes, many people have no symptoms at all, while other signs are dismissed as a
part of ‘getting older’. By the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the complications of diabetes may
already be present. Symptoms include:
A.C.N. 072 405 139 A.B.N 68 072 405 139
Unit 17K, 2 King Street, Deakin ACT 2600 / PO Box 324, Curtin ACT 2605
Tel: (02) 6232 5480 Fax: (02) 6232 5484
Being excessively thirsty
Passing more urine
Feeling tired and lethargic
Always feeling hungry
Having cuts that heal slowly
Itching, skin infections
Blurred vision
Gradually putting on weight
Mood swings
Headaches
Feeling dizzy
Leg cramps
PREVENTING TYPE 2 DIABETES
It is estimated that up to 60% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented. People at risk of type 2
diabetes can delay and even prevent this disease by following a healthy lifestyle. This includes:
Maintaining a healthy weight
Regular physical activity
Making healthy food choices
Managing blood pressure
Managing cholesterol levels
Not smoking.
Released for the Rural Health Education Foundation by Kardan Consulting
For further media information please contact:
Karen Bristow on (02) 9967 3245 or 0414 320 146
STATISTICS ON DIABETES
275 Australians develop diabetes every day.
Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease.
About 890,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with diabetes. For every person
diagnosed, it is estimated that there is another who is not yet diagnosed; a total of
about 1.7 million people.
The total number of Australians with diabetes and pre-diabetes is estimated at 3.2
million.
As the sixth leading cause of death in Australia, it is critical we take action.
Up to 60% of cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
NEWS 
