Practice Nurses

Diabetes Prevention

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's report, Diabetes: Australia Facts 2008 reports that the incidence of diabetes has more than doubled in the last 15 years.

Diabetes is one of the largest contributors to the disease burden in Australia, with type 2 diabetes accounting for 92 percent of diabetes cases. Diabetes can result in a number of complications, including an increased risk of developing cardiovascular, eye and kidney disease. 

Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable by controlling associated lifestyle risk factors. Risk factors such as age, family history of gestational diabetes or cardiovascular disease cannot be changed however risk factors such as achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, especially around the waist, being physically active and following a healthy eating regime, including plenty of vegetables, high fibre cereal products and a minimum amount of fat, can be changed.

A number of studies, particularly in Finland, have shown that intensive lifestyle interventions can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk. There are a number of accredited lifestyle modification providers within the CHGPN listed further down below.

General Practice

Diabetes is one of the main chronic conditions managed by General Practitioners (GPs). GPs are usually the initial point of contact and provide ongoing care and management for people with diabetes, including coordination of the multidisciplinary care services required to manage the condition and its complications.

The role of general practice in addressing diabetes, includes prevention and early intervention as well as diagnosing and managing diabetes. General practice is well placed to be an initial point of contact to support people at risk of diabetes.

The AUSDRISK tool is a useful tool that can be used in general practice to assess someone's risk of getting diabetes. Patients eligible can then be referred to a lifestyle modification program.

Lifestyle Modification Courses

Lifestyle Modification Courses are courses aimed at preventing the onset of diabetes in "at risk people". There are two types of Lifestyle Modification Courses that patients can be referred to i.e. Life! and Reset your Life. Both courses are usually delivered in groups and the Life! program has the option of a telephone coaching service. Patients can only be referred to a Lifestyle Modification Program if they score 12 points or more on the AUSDRISK tool.

The Life ! program will enrol any patient that meets this criteria who is aged 40 or above whereas the Reset your Life course can only take in patients that are aged between 40 to 49 years of age. All adult Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people are eligible for the Life! program and all ATSI people aged 15 to 54 are eligible to participate in the Reset Your Life program.

Diabetes must be excluded in persons being referred to either of these courses.

General practices referring to the Life! program can now claim a practice nurse incentive from Diabetes Victoria for a First Visit referral pathway to promote and refer eligible participants to the Life! program. The practice will be paid $83.45 (GST excluded) per First Visit as reimbursement for the practice nurses' time. During the First Visit the practice nurse will confirm eligibility and then referral to the most appropriate Life! program.  

Practices can register to conduct First Visits by contacting Lauren Day at Diabetes Victoria on Tel: 96671756 LDay@diabetesvic.org.au

Lifestyle Modification Courses are available in the following towns: