Specialist Diabetic Care

Diabetic Care is provided by our comprehensive Diabetes Care team, which includes endocrinologists, dietitians, podiatrists, exercise physiologists and optometrists. Our Diabetes Care team provide a holistic treatment approach to help patients reach and maintain their glucose, c holesterol, blood pressure and weight targets. This will ensure the prevention of Heart, Kidney, Nerve and Eye problems. 

The Treatment provided at the Health + Diabetes Centre is best explained in 5 parts; Assessment,  Education and information, Treatment plans, Treatment survallence and Annual complication screening. 

Assessment 

Before comprehensive treatment can begin your overall diabetes status needs to be assessed. The Health and diabetes Centre utilises advanced diagnostic tools to determine overall diabetes status. These include: 

• HbA1c measurement to indicate blood control
• Urine spot-check for kidney function
• Waist circumference and Abdomen Ct scan to help determine insulin resistance & cardiac risk
• Blood pressure to determine cardiac & stroke risk
• Resting & Exercise ECG to check on cardiac status
• Legs & feet check to determine your risk for leg ulcers
• Fundus photo of your eye to determine your eye health & risk for retinopathy
• Lifestyle issues will be discussed to determine your smoking & alcohol intake; any sexual problems; your exercise & eating habits - suggestions and assistance can be discussed
• Your general well-being - the team will attempt to determine how you've been feeling recently & how you're coping with diabetes so that assistance can be discussed & offered.

Education and information

It is common for patients to feel depressed and anxious when they are diagnosed with diabetes, however the right team and good education about diabetes can help a great deal to reduce these anxieties. 

Our Diabetes Care Team will teach patients and their families:

• How to recognise the signs of ketoacidosis,low (hypo) and high (hyper) blood sugar levels, and what to do when they happen.
• They will explain any possible long-term problems and complications that can affect a person with diabetes, how these are treated, and how the risk of developing them can be reduced.
  
• They will also take the time to discuss with patients any lifestyle changes that they may face with diabetes, including issues such as driving, insurance,travelling and family planning.

It is important that as a patient you work with the diabetes care team to put the recommended lifestyle changes into practice, and take day-to-day responsibility for your blood sugar levels and your diabetes.

Treatment Plan

Our intergrated Diabetes Care team will work with the patient to create a tailor-made treatment plan which includes:

•  Recommendations for healthy eating and living

•  Advice on how and when to take insulin, tablets or both

•  Advice on making adjustments according to blood sugar levels

• Individual targets for blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight
  

Treatment Surveillance

Your consultation and periodic reviews will include tests and measurements that assist the team in determining how your efforts are going along with the prescribed treatment. 

Annual complication Screening

At the Health and Diabetes Centre we offer a unique annual complication screening clinic called the Diabetic program.  Learn more....