Western Australian - The West Australian

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Published July 15, 2015

Western Australian

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Celebrating National Diabetes Week – July 12-18, 2015

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Alliance forms to collectively tackle diabetes All major diabetes-related organisations in Western Australia have come together to form an alliance to promote the shared cause of diabetes – the state’s fastest growing chronic condition. The Western Australian Diabetes Alliance (WADA), formed earlier this year, comprises six not-for-profit organisations that focus on different types of diabetes and enact various approaches to tackling the increased numbers diagnosed with the condition. Diabetes WA, Diabetes Research Western Australia, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Princess Margaret Hospital, Telethon Kids Institute and Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre have come together under the umbrella of WADA to raise awareness of shared areas of concern. Diabetes WA CEO Andrew Wagstaff said although WADA was not a legal entity and was not looking to fundraise, it intended to collaborate for the betterment of people living with diabetes. “This is the next step in the evolution of diabetes management in this state,” he said. “Collaboration in certain areas is sensible and will only help the person with diabetes.”

Diabetes Research WA Executive Director Sherl Westlund said the diabetes landscape in WA was a complex one and there was a need for a shared approach to certain issues. “I am confident this alliance will only be a positive for people living with the condition in WA,” she said. JDRF Australia (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) CEO Mike Wilson believed this union would have a knock-on effect with other stakeholders. “The formation of this alliance signifies how serious the prevalence of diabetes is, in all of its forms, in WA and I look forward to it promoting ‘cause diabetes’,” he said. “Speaking to government about the condition as an alliance only strengthens the message.” Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre General Manager Rebecca Johnson said she was keen to help educate the community about type 1 diabetes and the impact it had on young people and their families. “We need to collaborate on a shared vision and avoid duplication,” she said. “As a group we have the ability to ensure community awareness is raised about all

forms of diabetes and, in doing so, better advocate for the specific needs of our clients and patients.” For decades Princess Margaret Hospital and the Telethon Kids Institute have been actively involved in the management of young people diagnosed with diabetes and will be intimately involved in the alliance.

How is diabetes managed? Depending on the type of diabetes, management includes: • Insulin replacement: type 1 diabetes • Progression to medication – tablets and/or insulin: type 2 diabetes

As a group we have the ability to ensure community awareness is raised about all forms of diabetes and, in doing so, better advocate for the specific needs of our clients and patients.

• Regular physical activity • Healthy eating: maintain a diet low in fat (particularly saturated fat), high fibre, including some low GI and low salt • Reducing fat around your abdomen • Regular health checks with your diabetes team • Managing stress • Monitoring your blood glucose levels • Education: learning how to manage your diabetes and keeping your knowledge and skills up-to-date.


Western Australian

DIABETES

Editor: Louise Allan | Writer: Laura Galic | Subeditor: Kirsten Hyam | Design: Nam Luu | Advertising: Eithne Healy, 9482 3559

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There are around 107,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Western Australia.

The different types of diabetes For our bodies to work properly we need to access glucose (sugar) from food for energy. Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot make proper use of carbohydrates because it does not make enough effective insulin. The hormone insulin acts as a key to open the doorways on muscles and cells to use glucose for energy and lowers blood glucose levels. There are three main types of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

Gestational diabetes

Of the 124,000 Western Australians with diabetes, around 12,000 (10 per cent) have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs only during the term of a pregnancy.

It is most often diagnosed in children and adults into their mid-30s, but can happen at any age. It is not preventable and, at this time, there is no cure. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. For reasons medical professionals are yet to fully understand, the immune system of people with type 1 diabetes has been triggered by certain genes to attack the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Research suggests an environmental event – possibly exposure to a virus – triggers the attack. The condition is chronic and means lifelong insulin replacement therapy – often multiple injections a day. With the help of insulin therapy, blood glucose monitoring and a healthy lifestyle, people with type 1 diabetes enjoy healthy and productive lives.

There are around 107,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Western Australia. For every person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there is another who is undiagnosed. While the cause of type 2 diabetes is currently unknown, a range of associated risk factors have been identified. Genetics, family history, age and ethnic background can contribute to type 2 diabetes. Modifying weight, activity and eating patterns is currently the only way to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly. The key to managing type 2 is a lifestyle of physical activity, healthy eating, weight management and stress management. As the person’s diabetes progresses, they will need to add medications, including insulin, to manage their diabetes.

Between five to eight per cent of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes. All women should be tested for gestational diabetes during pregnancy. During pregnancy a degree of insulin resistance (where the insulin is not effective) occurs. Some mothers develop more insulin resistance where blood glucose levels become too high and gestational diabetes develops. It is extremely important to be tested six to eight weeks after the baby is born to check if the diabetes has gone. Women who have had gestational diabetes are 70 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

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Resources to help manage diabetes Diabetes WA has come a long way since its beginnings in 1965, when 100 people met at Perth Town Hall to learn more about the condition and become the first members of the organisation. Fast forward 50 years and Diabetes WA has evolved into a multifaceted services organisation that employs more than 80 people across two offices reaching out to the 300,000 people living with, or connected to, diabetes in Western Australia. In 2015 membership remains an important part of Diabetes WA’s culture and lies at the heart of what it does – helping all people impacted by the condition to lead a life as free from its complications as possible. However, as the rate of diabetes diagnoses continues to rise, Diabetes WA has responded to this challenge by offering its range of diabetes and chronic condition-related programs and services, working complementary to the Western Australian Health System. In particular, funding support from Lotterywest and delivering on contracts from the WA Department of Health assist in this outreach. The core of these programs focuses on diabetes prevention, self-management education and personal support to people affected by diabetes. Specific programs and resources are also available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in addition to those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Service development is guided by the service frameworks and service standards established in The Western Australia Framework for Action on Diabetes and Diabetes Service Standards 2014, which Diabetes WA played a key role in developing.

Diabetes WA services to help lead a healthy life Prevention of type 2 diabetes My Healthy Balance: A free healthy lifestyle program for all adults that provides the knowledge to make informed decisions about nutrition, exercise, stress and how to make sustainable positive changes in your life. www.myhealthybalance.com.au Fuel Your Future: This is about equipping young people with the tools and knowledge they need to put the best fuel in their vehicle – their body. www.fuelyourfuture.com.au Walking Away: A three-hour program that can be delivered in a workplace or community setting and sets people on the path to changing their own lifestyles and ‘walking away’ from type 2 diabetes. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. Strong Culture: An education pack for teachers and communities to use with Aboriginal children to talk about the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more.

Management of diabetes

While Diabetes WA has world-class, evidenced-based diabetes prevention and education technologies, the scale of the diabetes challenge in WA far outweighs its current capacity to reach those at risk of diabetes and/or in need of support and services.

Diabetes WA provides a range of information sessions, courses, programs and support groups for people with diabetes, plus the popular Diabetes Information and Advice Line (DIAL) – a callback service where people with diabetes, their carers or families and health professionals can ring 1300 136 588 for the latest information and support from a diabetes educator.

Meeting the challenge means working with all available communications technologies to provide consumers with a quality diabetes response regardless of their location in WA.

DESMOND: The Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND) program is an education tool designed to support people living with type 2 diabetes. People

learn practical skills for managing diabetes in areas such as food choices, physical activity and medication interactions. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander version of DESMOND is also available. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. Diabetes Telehealth for Country WA: Delivered through a partnership with WA Country Health Services Southern Inland Health Initiative, Diabetes WA delivers diabetes education and support services through telehealth to people in regional and rural WA where local services do not exist. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. Smart Program Series: This is a series of programs to support diabetes selfmanagement including ShopSmart, CarbSmart, MealSmart, FootSmart and MeterSmart. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. Membership: Diabetes WA membership connects people to the latest diabetes information, discounts and services for diabetes prevention and management – plus a hard copy of the quarterly members’ magazine Diabetes Matters. Discount rates for pensioners apply. Call 9436 6242 to find out more.

leading a healthier lifestyle. Visit www.diabeteswa.com.au/healthjourney to register. HealthSmart Solutions: This is WA’s only corporate health provider run by a peak health body, with all profits going back into the programs and services delivered in the community by Diabetes WA. Its suite of evidence-based programs is proven to directly impact and advance the health of staff across various businesses. Services include nutritionist cooking demonstrations, Workplace POWER (specifically targeted at men), HealthSmart Score Card (workplace audit services), dietetic consultancy and specialist diabetes programs. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS): Delivers subsidised products, information and support services to people with diabetes across Australia. The scheme started in 1987 and is funded by the Australian Government. Diabetes WA administers the scheme in WA on behalf of the government. Visit www.ndss.com.au to find out more.

News and advice: Diabetes WA provides free monthly online e-newsletters targeted to people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, health professionals, health-aware people and Western Australian businesses. The e-newsletters contain the latest information about research, programs, news and recipes for people living with diabetes or those who are interested in

For more information about Diabetes WA, visit www.diabeteswa.com.au.

Do you have diabetes?

Pay less with the NDSS! NDSS registrants have access to free and subsidised diabetes products and services. With over 600 Access Points in WA, the NDSS makes diabetes management simple and affordable.

Find your nearest Access Point. Call 1300 136 588 or visit www.ndss.com.au

The National Diabetes Services Scheme is an initiative of the Australian Government, administered by Diabetes Australia

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Groundbreaking centre promotes community-based care model The Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre is the first facility in Australia dedicated to providing peer and psychosocial support to children with type 1 diabetes and their families. General Manager Rebecca Johnson said the Family Centre’s vision was to create and sustain a connected, informed and supported type 1 diabetes community in Western Australia. “We offer a dynamic program of camps, workshops, social events and education, targeting children of all ages with type 1 diabetes and their family members,” she said. “Our service is breaking new ground, moving towards a community-based care model that adds the crucial element of peer support to the medical management of diabetes.” Type 1 diabetes is one of the most complex and difficult health problems to manage properly, especially in children, where it falls to parents to monitor their children

around the clock and perform constant daily management tasks to keep them safe. Ms Johnson said managing type 1 diabetes in young children was particularly difficult because they were unable to self-administer insulin injections or manage insulin pumps, test their blood and navigate food choices necessary to keep their blood glucose in the safe range. It could also be tough for adolescents with type 1 diabetes, especially when they took on the task of daily self-care and accepting they were different from their peers. Then there is the realisation of living with a life-threatening condition, which could leave them feeling isolated and vulnerable. “All ages and stages of a childhood with type 1 present challenges to a family,” Ms Johnson said. “Diagnosis hits every member of a family differently; mums, dads and siblings report feeling overwhelmed and afraid.

Baby Jack with his parents Dan and Michelle Hayes are one of many families benefitting from the services provided by the Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre.

“Beyond diagnosis, the daily management of diabetes is both complex and fatiguing and can change family dynamics forever.”

With this in mind, the Family Centre was launched to help the type 1 community by connecting families, supporting emotional wellness and providing an holistic approach to care.

Programs teach type 1 management skills to empower families living with diabetes Collectively the team at Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre offers a number of workshops and programs to help families build the skills needed to create adaptive management strategies. Operations and Events Coordinator Crystal Brown said families were encouraged to recommend ideas for events, workshops and programs they felt were needed. “Type 1 diabetes can be emotionally draining, isolating and frustrating, so we are providing programs to build stronger networks with other kids going through the same thing, as well as upskill them where they need it,” she said. Dietitian and Diabetes Educator Amy Rush provides nutritionrelated support and advice about exercise and diabetes management to families at the Family Centre. Ms Rush leads a broad range of services at the Family Centre, including the babysitters’ training sessions. “These are individualised sessions tailored

to educate close family and friends how to care for the type 1 child in their life for a three to four-hour period,” she said. “This is a program that parents asked us to do because they didn’t feel confident leaving their child with a babysitter who didn’t understand diabetes. “Our feedback so far has been fantastic and we are looking to expand the education to longer term and overnight care.” Ms Rush also runs regular Cooking for Teens workshops, which teach adolescents food preparation, cooking skills and healthy eating. “I have lots of other projects in the pipeline, including carbohydrate counting classes and type 1 parents’ cooking sessions,” she said.

“Our programs aim to connect kids with diabetes to the joy of cooking and eating to help them develop healthy relationships with food.” The Family Centre helps families with a child with type 1 diabetes go on holidays, giving them time to connect and relax in a safe environment.

“We know from a long history of research studies that this kind of support helps people access useful information and resources, enhances people’s sense of emotional wellbeing and increases self-esteem.

In partnership with Nature Play WA and the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Family Centre is taking 20 families on a camp to Albany for an epic four-day adventure of bushwalking, kayaking and beachcombing.

“We are offering group programs for teens soon that focus on developing the self-advocacy skills required to navigate the healthcare system from a young age and to talk about needs associated with diabetes with family, friends and the community at large.”

A five-day camp for 30 teenagers has also been planned for Camp Kulin in partnership with Diabetes WA.

For more information about the Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre, visit www.telethontype1.org.au.

“Managing type 1 diabetes requires a vast, in-depth knowledge of food, especially carbohydrate contents,” she said.

Psychologist and Family Support Manager Lisa Robins helps develop and run programs that provide support for people dealing with the emotional challenges that come with living with type 1 diabetes, as well as support for their family members.

“With diabetes, food is reduced to numbers and this can create difficult and unhealthy relationships with food.

“There’s lots of evidence that a good support network improves people’s ability to manage diabetes in the day-to-day and

Ms Rush said there was a growing issue with disordered eating in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes.

can help to buffer the stress that comes with managing a chronic condition,” she said.

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Research to make a difference Diabetes Research Western Australia Chair of the Board Erica Smyth knows first-hand how research plays a powerful role in helping people living with diabetes.

body clock, so you have a significantly lower risk of having low blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous.

Thanks to science, she has seen many changes in the past 41 years that have made her life with type 1 diabetes easier.

The research into cloning human insulin has helped many of the health issues I had with pig and beef insulin in my early life. And, because human insulin is also more temperature tolerant, my international travel has become a lot easier.

Delivering advances is Diabetes Research WA’s mission. From supporting early clinical trials of an insulin pump in the early 1980s to recently backing research that paves the way for predicting ahead of time what complications people with diabetes may go on to develop, the groundbreaking local research it supports is about making a difference for those with the condition and helping ease the huge ripple effect it has across the entire community. When were you diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and what changes to your treatment have you experienced over the years? I was diagnosed in 1974 when I was only 22 years old. It was five weeks into my first real job as a geologist, so it was quite traumatic. The changes I have seen are the improved methods of injecting insulin. I’ve gone from glass syringes to disposable needles, then insulin pens to a pump. We also have better testing of blood glucose. I’ve used urine testing with coloured strips, through to coloured strips using blood. Now we have these auto systems, which are so fantastic. And of course, we have better insulin. I’ve gone from pig and beef insulin, through to human-cloned insulin. Lastly we have a much better understanding of food types and the impact that has on your blood sugar. Now the glycemic index is really well understood, so in all, treatment has improved enormously.

Overall, how has research made your life easier living with type 1 diabetes?

Diabetes Research WA is working hard to find solutions for which key areas? We focus on research efforts here in Western Australia, in particular the underlying causes of type 1 diabetes, the complications that could develop from type 1 and type 2 and, in a small degree, the mental health impacts on the management of diabetes.

The grain helping fight diabetes Diabetes Research Western Australia helped fund the research that discovered the benefits of the lupin grain. Lupin-supplemented diets have been shown to protect against type 2 diabetesrelated traits, such as lowering blood levels of the obesity hormone leptin. Understanding that lupin-based diets may improve general health by reducing obesity in some individuals could help lower rates of type 2 diabetes.

The complications that arise from diabetes are long term, particularly if they’re not identified early and not well controlled. If we’re not careful, a tsunami of complications requiring really significant health treatment will threaten our whole health system.

Research also found a lupin diet can significantly reduce insulin resistance in some cases.

We have some great researchers here in WA; they are people who can think differently yet are able to collaborate internationally. What we’re trying to do is offer, particularly young researchers, the opportunity to access competitive grants and assist them to further their research and build their careers so they can compete for funds on the national and international stage. Career development is critical to keep people researching diabetes.

It was about 14 years ago when I started to have real trouble at night. I would have a fit and end up with a locked jaw and I would have to drive myself down to the hospital and get my jaw unlocked.

The pump also reduced my overall need for insulin by 30 per cent, which is very good. It is more aligned with the timing of your own

ffrom rom Diabetes Research WA

Diabetes Research WA is observing an influx of new people developing diabetes. How has this made science and research even more important?

Describe how the invention of the insulin pump has benefitted you and other people living with diabetes.

But once I changed over to the pump, I could set my own personal insulin levels to my own timeline needs and I stopped having trouble during the night.

Sherl Westlund and Grant Morahan

Erica Smyth

The next step is to find funds to help identify the genes involved in regulation of appetite and metabolism to create new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2’s impact on thinking and memory

Advancing new treatments and a cure for type 1 Other research the organisation has helped fund has discovered ways to make insulin-secreting beta cells from immature precursors. This work was developed using mouse models and the team has now shown it can transfer the method to make human insulin-secreting cells. The next step is to create enough insulin-secreting cells to treat people with type 1 diabetes. The research team is also developing a new treatment that would restore function to the failed insulin-secreting cells of people with type 2 diabetes. Ultimately the researchers hope these technologies will provide a cure for insulin-dependent diabetes.

Powerful protein can help reduce obesity

More funded research has found type 2 diabetes can dramatically affect the everyday thinking skills of up to one in three adults aged 60 years and older.

A Diabetes Research Western Australiafunded project is making great progress in harnessing the power of a protein known as TNFSF14.

The initial study found attention, speed of thought and higher level thinking skills (executive functions) were compromised in older adults with type 2, compared to other people of the same age.

The protein has been shown to play a role in reducing diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes by helping limit weight gain, insulin resistance (a hallmark of type 2 diabetes) and glucose intolerance.

Significantly slower thinking skills, at a level that would affect day-to-day functioning, were observed in 32 per cent of those in the study when they were detecting a target and one in four participants during memory tasks.

The team behind it is working to ensure this research can continue so they can target TNFSF14 to create new treatments to tackle type 2 diabetes as no commonly used anti-obesity drugs have resulted in consistent and effective weight loss.

In comparison, only seven per cent of the general population was likely to complete these tasks at a similarly slowed pace.

For more information about Diabetes Research Western Australia visit www.diabetesresearchwa.com.au.

Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes within five years*:

What is your risk of having type 2 diabetes? There are some risk factors for type 2 diabetes you can’t change. These include age, genetics and ethnicity. However, there are many things you can do to lower your risk. Take the following test to determine your risk and act to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. 5. Have you ever been found to have high

1. Your age group Under 35 years 35 – 44 years 45 – 54 years 55 – 64 years 65 years or over

(0 points) (2 points) (4 points) (6 points) (8 points)

2. Your gender Female (0 points)

Male (3 points)

blood glucose (sugar) (for example, in a health examination, during an illness, during pregnancy)? No (0 points)

Yes (6 points)

6. Are you currently taking medication for high blood pressure? No (0 points)

3. Your ethnicity/country of birth: a) Are you of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander or Maori descent? No (0 points) Yes (2 points)

Yes (2 points)

7. Do you currently smoke cigarettes or any other tobacco products on a daily basis? No (0 points)

10. Your waist measurement taken below the ribs (usually at the level of the navel and while standing) Waist measurement (cm) For those of Asian or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent: Men Women Less than 90cm Less than 80cm (0 points) (0 points) 90 – 100cm 80 – 90cm (4 points) (4 points) More than 100cm More than 90cm (7 points) (7 points)

Yes (2 points)

b) Where were you born? Australia (0 points) Asia (including the Indian subcontinent), Middle East, North Africa, Southern Europe (2 points) Other (0 points)

8. How often do you eat vegetables or fruit? Every day

(0 points)

Not every day

(1 point)

9. On average, would you say you do at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week (for

4. Have either of your parents or any of your brothers and sisters been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or type 2)? No (0 points) Yes (3 points)

example, 30 minutes a day on five or more days a week)? Yes

(0 points)

No

(2 points)

Saving sight

Vision

Add up your points

Approximately one person in every 100 with this score will develop diabetes. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to continue to reduce your risk. My Healthy Balance (page 15) is an innovative and interactive program designed by health professionals to help improve your health and maintain your low risk. Call 1300 136 588 to learn more. 6–11: Intermediate risk For scores of 6–8, approximately one person in every 50 will develop diabetes. For scores of 9–11, approximately one person in every 30 will develop diabetes. If you scored 6–11 you may be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Take this magazine with you and discuss your score and individual risk with your doctor. Improving your lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Ask your GP about the Walking Away program (page 13) or call 1300 136 588. 12 or more: High risk

OR For all others: Men Less than 102cm (0 points) 102 – 110cm (4 points) More than 110cm (7 points)

5 or less: Low risk

Women Less than 88cm (0 points) 88 – 100cm (4 points) More than 100cm (7 points)

For scores of 12–15, approximately one person in every 14 will develop diabetes. For scores of 16–19, approximately one person in every seven will develop diabetes. For scores of 20 and above, approximately one person in every three will develop diabetes. If you scored 12 or more points you may have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes or be at high risk of developing the condition. See your doctor about having a fasting blood glucose test. Act now to prevent type 2 diabetes. Call 1300 136 588 to find out more. *The overall score may overestimate the risk of diabetes in those aged less than 25 years.

Type 1 diabetics Asta Nevin and her mother Natasha Walker at the 2015 HBF Run for a Reason.

is our

As a not-for-profit research organisation, the Lions Eye Institute is committed to reducing the impact of diabetes on eye health. With rates of diabetes higher in Indigenous people, the Lions Eye Institute, through Lions Outback Vision, is committed to education, prevention and treatment to reduce diabetes-related vision loss.

Like you, we’re proud to support those living with diabetes. To find out more about the Lions Eye Institute, visit

www.lei.org.au

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Research brings hope for an artificial pancreas levels in control was essential to prevent serious health problems that could develop over time, including blindness and kidney problems.

when they are asleep. The young person wakes up with good glucose levels that means they can function well at school or work.”

But unlike most other teenagers, it’s not just a case of packing a backpack.

“A major focus of our research is to find a way to protect people with type 1 diabetes from developing these problems,” he said.

Tori faces the daily reality of having to manage her type 1 diabetes – that’s hard enough at home, let alone in more challenging locations.

“On this trial, young people with type 1 diabetes are able to go home with the system monitoring their system 24/7.”

It’s now hoped the continuous glucose monitoring sensor required to make the device so effective can be listed on the National Diabetes Services Scheme so that it becomes affordable for families.

Now a new device is giving Tori independence and security that could help make that dream come true.

Researchers at Telethon Kids Institute, along with PMH doctors, are at the forefront of this technology.

Earlier this year, she joined a research trial for a mechanical insulin pump that is a step towards the development of an artificial pancreas.

The system consists of a glucose sensor that sits under the skin, an insulin pump that delivers insulin and an Android-based smartphone that contains the maths program to calculate the insulin needed.

Like most teenagers, 17-year-old Tori Brown is making plans for her future. Top of the list is to travel and her first dream destination is South America.

“It’s literally like a weight off my shoulders. I don’t have to worry about slipping into a coma while I’m asleep,” she explained. “This new pump automatically cuts off the insulin when my glucose levels are low and stops the big highs and lows that can be like a rollercoaster.” Telethon Kids Institute researcher and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) clinician Professor Tim Jones said keeping glucose

Professor Jones said the technology had real potential for the future to reduce the burden on the individual and the family as a whole. “Families are used to getting up every night to prick their child’s finger and check their glucose levels,” he said. “They’re more relaxed during the night knowing things aren’t going to happen

Currently the cost of up to $100 a week puts it out of reach for many. For Tori, she sees it as her safety net. “It will make travel a lot safer. It would be good not to have to worry about going into a hypo in the night in a strange country, where I might be alone in a hotel or they might not know much about diabetes,” she said.

Tori Brown

While she hopes for a cure, in the meantime Tori hopes that research can make life a bit easier. “There’s a lot involved in monitoring what you eat and managing your glucose levels,” she said. “It would be good if daily tasks were easier and there was not so much responsibility.” The development of an artificial pancreas is a big step towards making that wish come true.

Joining the research to determine type 1 diabetes factors As Laurie-Ann Brown cradles her baby son Ayden in her arms, she knows the pair have already been on quite a journey to see him safely into the world. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 28 years ago, Mrs Brown is adept at managing her condition. However, pregnancy presents a whole new set of issues with potentially dire consequences for the developing baby. “The challenges are rather enormous and daunting with keeping your blood sugars and hormones controlled; you think you’ve got it under control and then everything changes,” Mrs Brown said. While Ayden is her second healthy baby, she knows her sons are at increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes. While the condition occurs in families, it is not directly inherited and researchers believe a range of environmental factors are involved.

It is for this reason that Mrs Brown and Ayden are part of a new study looking to identify those factors.

requires volunteers who are pregnant with type 1 diabetes, or a partner or child with type 1 diabetes.

Telethon Kids Institute researcher and Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) clinician Professor Liz Davis said the study would provide crucial information about what triggers the development of type 1 diabetes.

Mrs Brown said participating had been easy.

“The study is driven by the fact that the rate of type 1 diabetes is increasing at about three per cent a year and we don’t know why,” Professor Davis said.

“I had a couple of clinic visits during pregnancy and then they took some samples from Ayden when he was born, things like cord blood, meconium and skin swabs,” she said. “Now I will keep a food diary for him for the first 12 months.

“Certainly that increase suggests there’s more than genetics involved and that’s why we’re looking at the broad environment.

“Going out of my way for a few years to contribute to a future without type 1 diabetes would be amazing.

“Factors could include things like food, viruses or contaminants.

“It’s not something that’s going to assist my life or our kids’ life, but it could have a massive impact on someone in the future.

“We need this type of study to determine why some kids go on to develop the disease while others don’t.” It is called the Environmental Determinant of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) and the study

Laurie-Ann Brown and son Ayden

“Maybe it will help our children’s children.” To find out more about joining the study, phone a research nurse on 9340 7974 or visit www.endia.org.au.

For more information about the Telethon Kids Institute visit www.telethonkids.org.au.

Western Australian

Celebrating National Diabetes Week July 12-18, 2015

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Working to reduce stigma Feelings of shame and blame caused by diabetes-related stigma is putting people with the condition at risk of developing very real, physical and psychological long-term complications, Diabetes WA has warned. Misinformed attitudes towards people living with diabetes is causing some to withdraw from much-needed health services, largely due to the perception that type 2 diabetes is solely a lifestyle-related condition, the organisation said. “Without adequate management, diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to severe consequences, regardless of whether it’s type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and stigmatising either does no-one any good,” Diabetes WA Health Services General Manager Helen Mitchell said. “What many people do not realise is that type 2 diabetes is as much a genetic condition as type 1 diabetes, with both conditions having multiple genes contributing to their development.” Australian research has found the majority of people living with type 2 diabetes believed there was social stigma surrounding their condition and many were subject to negative stereotyping and were discriminated against. The media, healthcare professionals, friends, family and colleagues were found to be sources of stigma. Self-blame and shame has ramifications for physical health, leading to unwillingness to disclose type 2 diabetes to others, including health professionals. Many perceived their diabetes as a character flaw and as a burden on the health system

and, in doing so, do not fully engage with treatment regimens designed to reduce the risk of developing diabetes-related complications including heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness and amputation. Social stigma directed towards people living type 2 diabetes also had ramifications for people living with type 1 diabetes. It has been found the majority of people with type 1 diabetes felt diabetes was a stigmatised condition and the most obvious form of stigma was the anger and frustration of being wrongly thought of as having type 2 diabetes and therefore receiving negative judgements and stereotypes. “If we can reduce community misunderstandings around type 2 diabetes, then we can help people with both types of the condition,” Ms Mitchell said. “It’s time we started the conversation and helped everyone to feel empowered to manage their condition well.”

What many people don’t realise is that type 2 diabetes is as much a genetic condition as type 1 diabetes, with both conditions having multiple genes contributing to their development.

Dealing with stigma Diabetes WA believes the best way to eradicate diabetes-related stigma is to start the conversation about diabetes with others. It may be helpful to: Let the genes talk: Remind others that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have genetic causes and one third of people with type 2 diabetes are neither overweight nor obese. Take diabetes seriously: It is no joke. Both types of diabetes put people at

risk of blindness, kidney failure, foot and leg ulcers, amputation and heart attack. Understanding and support is needed by all to encourage people to manage their diabetes. An important part of this is being able to talk about it. Get informed: Both types of diabetes are complex conditions and the key to understanding both is being informed. Visit www.diabeteswa.com.au or call 1300 136 588 for more information.

We do the serious stuff, so kids can do the stuff. By helping kids manage their diabetes, Professor Tim Jones and his team are also helping prevent future complications like eye disease. Of course kids like Toby don’t think we’re protecting his adult eyes – he thinks we’re helping him get his eye in.

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Why do some children develop type 1 diabetes? By Dr Aveni Haynes, Research Fellow, Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, Princess Margaret Hospital. Which children get diabetes, what causes it and why is the disease more prevalent among some groups? Researchers are constantly looking at these questions. Most children diagnosed with diabetes in Western Australia are treated at Princess Margaret Hospital. By analysing the characteristics of these children, researchers are trying to better understand which children get diabetes and why. In WA about 115 children are newly diagnosed with diabetes each year. Most children diagnosed with diabetes under the age of 15 have type 1 diabetes, where damage to insulin-producing cells in their pancreas means they need daily insulin treatment to survive. Type 1 diabetes occurs at similar rates in boys and girls and the risk increases with age, peaking around puberty for both sexes. What causes type 1 diabetes remains poorly understood, but it is generally accepted that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.

A family history of type 1 diabetes increases the risk of the condition in related individuals, indicating the role of genetic factors. Children who have a mother with type 1 diabetes are two to three per cent more likely to develop the condition. Those who have a father with type 1 diabetes have a seven per cent increased risk and those who have a sibling with type 1 diabetes have a six per cent increased risk. Importantly not all children with an increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes go on to develop the disease and more than 80 per cent of cases occur spontaneously with no family history involved. This shows that other non-genetic factors are important in causing the disease. In WA, studies have shown the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children is increasing at an average of 2.3 per cent each year. The cause of this increase is not known. The number of new cases appears to go up and down, with peaks and troughs approximately every five years.

months, again suggesting infections or weather changes may be important. Other studies in WA have investigated where children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes live and found the risk to be highest in metropolitan areas and lowest in remote areas. In addition, areas of higher socioeconomic status are associated with a higher risk, compared to areas of lower socioeconomic status. In another study, babies with a higher birth weight, born prematurely, born to older mothers or the first born in a family were found to have a higher risk of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Research efforts are continuing in order to better understand the cause of type 1 diabetes with the aim of identifying risks that can be modified to prevent this lifelong and lifethreatening disease. Dr Aveni Haynes is a doctor with clinical experience at hospitals in England and Perth. As a Research Fellow based at PMH, she investigates the epidemiology of childhood diabetes in WA and the role of environmental and genetic factors.

Factors which may be related to this unusual pattern are yet to be identified and may include viral infections or cyclical weather patterns. Along with variations in the number of cases over several years, there is also a seasonal variation with more cases of type 1 diabetes diagnosed in cooler autumn and winter

Mother’s advice: take one step at a time Michelle Hayes’ advice to parents of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is to take one step at a time. “There is so much to learn and take in, as well as care for your newly diagnosed child,” she said. “A lot of people refer to it like bringing a newborn home with sleepless nights, but it definitely gets better. “We could not have got through the first month of Jack’s diagnosis without the support and daily phone calls from the diabetes educators at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). “Be kind to yourself, listen to the educators, be grateful you have a beautiful child and just give your love to your child. You will be fine. “The first month is the hardest and such

a learning curve, but you will be proud of yourself and so you should be. “You’ll surprise yourself with just how strong you are and yes, you might feel alone because let’s be honest, no-one truly knows what you are going through until they are in the same situation. “I remember reading that type 1 makes your life less spontaneous. Just include it in your daily routine and you won’t know the difference. “When there is a bad day, just remember our children will have to manage their diabetes themselves one day, so let’s give them the best opportunity and positive outlook in their life.” PMH Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes Department Dr Liz Davis echoed Michelle’s advice.

“Establishing good care in childhood is critical to prevent long-term problems for people with diabetes,” she said. “This is especially true for toddlers.”

You’ll surprise yourself with just how strong you are and yes, you might feel alone because let’s be honest, no-one truly knows what you are going through until they are in the same situation.

Jack Hayes shows off his insulin pump at a babies and toddlers diabetes clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital.


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Partnership allows kids’ recreation camps to continue A “grateful parent” was how Diabetes WA founder Ken Walker described himself in a heartfelt address to the association in 1970. His son Ean had just learnt to self-manage his condition at a diabetes camp in Victoria and, after seeing the positive impact of the experience, Mr Walker began to dream of running camps in Western Australia. “Today our son cares for himself,” Mr Walker said while addressing the crowd at Royal Perth Hospital.

Mr Walker’s address resonated with members and just one year later, 16 children attended the first WA camp for children with type 1 diabetes. Five years later there was tremendous demand for spaces and the camp had swelled in size to accommodate 28 children.

Run by clinicians from PMH and volunteers from Diabetes WA, the camps allow 36 children to enjoy activities such as the flying fox, swimming, arts and crafts and diabetes education sessions.

Fast forward to today and the kids’ camps are a much-loved staple on the Diabetes WA calendar, thanks to a partnership with Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

According to Diabetes WA Community Relations Manager Deanne Dymock, the camps had proven to be an effective way to improve diabetes management for children with type 1 diabetes, helping them to manage their condition from an early age and prevent serious complications.

Two camps are held each year, one for nine to 10-year-olds and the other for 11 to 12-year-olds.

“Working alongside PMH to provide these camps has been an invaluable opportunity

and feedback from parents over the years has been overwhelmingly positive,” Ms Dymock said.

“He is a happier boy with confidence in himself and has a better understanding of his diabetes. Therefore we see the necessity for holding such a camp annually in WA, so no diabetic child will be denied these same benefits. “Will you, as parents, assist us to give these children the rightful start they deserve?”

Are you at risk of type 2 diabetes or have pre-diabetes? Start :DONLQJ$ZD\ and discover support aimed at helping you manage your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This 3 hour course offers participants the opportunity to explore their personal risk and to identify the changes they need to make to remain healthy.

We look at diabetes differently. At Curtin, our commitment to ground-breaking diabetes research means that we look at things differently. Our focus on the role of diet and dietary components in combating the molecular mechanisms which lead to diabetes means that we achieve innovative solutions. This is why research organisations across the country are supporting us to continue leading the way. Find out more today at healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/biosciences

What is Walking Away? r r r

,WoVDZD\RIÞQGLQJRXWPRUHDERXW\RXUULVNRIGHYHORSLQJGLDEHWHV ,WoVDFRXUVHWRKHOS\RXWKLQNDERXWPDNLQJVPDOOFKDQJHVWKDWZLOO reduce your risk. It’s an opportunity to meet and share your experiences with others.

Bookings for all Walking Away sessions are essential and can be made by calling Diabetes WA on 1300 136 588 or emailing [email protected]. Make tomorrow better. CRICOS Provider Code 00301J / MF CU-HS000067 Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of Technology.

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Leading supporter of type 1 diabetes research JDRF Australia (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) works on bringing lifechanging therapies from the lab into people’s lives by leading, funding and supporting every stage of the research pipeline. After four decades working towards a cure for type 1 diabetes, we’ve accumulated enough experience to focus on the research that will achieve progress most quickly and deliver results that will improve lives and help create a future without type 1 diabetes. JDRF Australia’s vision is clear and simple: a world without type 1 diabetes.

That’s 45 ways of potentially curing or treating or preventing type 1 diabetes that are so close to general use, they are ready to be tested on humans.

This researcher said if it wasn’t for JDRF Australia, he wouldn’t be working in type 1 diabetes. That’s the stuff that inspires me and I hope it inspires you too.

That reflects decades of investment in discovery research, in combination with inspiration, discipline and dedication. Just recently an Australian researcher caught and characterised killer immune cells at the ‘scene of the crime’ in a donor pancreas.

It’s an ambitious goal, but we’re fired by the energy of our community.

By depicting those cells in action, he significantly enhanced the ability of researchers around the world to find new ways to stop that autoimmune process.

Right now JDRF has 45 clinical trials around the world.

This was the first time it had ever been done anywhere in the world.

Mike Wilson, CEO JDRF Australia

JDRF exists for the millions of children, adults, and families affected by type 1 diabetes every day. Their determination to overcome this disease inspires us and strengthens our resolve to create a world without type 1 diabetes.

Technological advance towards an artificial pancreas key to achieving goal JDRF Australia-funded research hit the news recently when it was announced access to life-changing technology would increase for Australians with type 1 diabetes. Xavier Hames, a patient at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), was the first patient in the world to receive breakthrough technology to help manage type 1 diabetes. The new insulin pump system was researched and tested through a series of clinical trials run by a team of specialists at PMH and a network of hospitals across Australia funded by JDRF Australia as well as JDRF’s Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, a JDRF Australia program supported by the Australian Government.

The pump system mimics the biological function of the pancreas to predict low glucose levels and stop insulin delivery. This avoids the serious consequences of low glucose such as coma, seizure and potential death. “We are seeing important progress towards artificial pancreas systems, which hold the promise to transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes by eliminating much of the burden of the daily management of the disease while improving glucose control,” JDRF Australian Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network Director Dr Dorota Pawlak said. “Such systems take us closer to achieving JDRF’s purpose of improving lives on

the journey to cure type 1 diabetes. This technology moves us towards that goal.” The new pump system is the first technology to track glucose levels and shut off insulin up to 30 minutes prior to a predicted hypoglycaemic event, meaning the person will not experience hypoglycaemia. This advance is aligned with JDRF’s global Artificial Pancreas Project. For more information about JDRF Australia, visit www.jdrf.org.au.

JDRF is the only type 1 diabetes research organisation with the plan, influence and ability to not just deliver hope, but a series of life-changing therapies that will progressively remove the burden of type 1 diabetes.

Making progress: Artificial pancreas systems could transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes.

Xavier Hames with his mum and dad

JDRF combines aggressive fundraising and hands-on collaboration with a broad range of scientific, regulatory and corporate partners, toward improving the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes and, ultimately, finding a cure.


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Putting health at the heart of business management Staff wellbeing or the bottom line? It doesn’t have to be a choice.

improve staff health by 25 per cent and reduce absenteeism by 21 per cent.”

sessions are a great mix of fun, interaction and interesting information.”

Healthy workers are a boon for any organisation and Diabetes WA’s health advisory service, HealthSmart Solutions, is on a mission to put health back into workplace health and safety. Its aim was to help prevent the rise of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, while helping organisations reap the benefits of a healthy workforce.

HealthSmart Solutions has assisted prominent organisations such as Woodside, Leighton Broad and Jones Lang LeSalle tackle workplace health with tailored healthy living seminars and hands-on workshops.

Mr Thomas said staff particularly enjoyed the CookSmart session, which included an interactive cooking demonstration in which staff had the chance to cook and taste a variety of healthy food.

Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) is one organisation HealthSmart Solutions worked with to improve health, morale and productivity.

Other popular HealthSmart Solutions programs include Getting Wise on Portion Size, Fad Diets, Nutrition for Shift Workers, Mindful Eating and Eating for Health: Preventing Chronic Disease.

Workplace health is a win for workers and an organisation’s bottom line, according to HealthSmart Solutions Workplace Health Consultant Ashling Turner. “It was found that healthy workers are safer, more motivated and can be up to 30 per cent more productive,” she said. “A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine also showed an effective corporate health program can

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“HealthSmart Solutions has provided our staff with a variety of engaging and informative health sessions,” RWWA General Manager Human Resources Matthew Thomas said. “These sessions have been a valuable addition to our wellbeing program and are a great way of introducing our staff to improved health, lifestyle, nutrition and general wellbeing choices. They have fantastic presenters and our staff have found the

HealthSmart Solutions also launched the award-winning men’s health program Workplace POWER, in partnership with The University of Newcastle. The title stands for ‘preventing obesity without eating like a rabbit’ and is an evidence-based program that gives male workers the tools they need to lose weight, without completely barring the foods they enjoy.

“Men participating in this easy-to-follow program can expect to lose an average of four to five kilos over 12 weeks,” Diabetes WA Men’s Health Project Officer Russell Cox said. “On top of this, men do not have to give up beer or foods they love or eat ‘rabbit food’.” For more information call 9436 6284 or email [email protected].

HealthSmart Solutions sessions

Want to make healthy habits and achieve your goals? My Healthy Balance is an online, evidence-based healthy lifestyle program and, best of all, it’s free!

A multi-award winning workplace weight loss SURJUDPGHVLJQHGVSHFLÞFDOO\ for men has arrived in WA!

Workplace POWER is an evidence-based weight loss program that teaches male workers how to lose weight without having to eat like a rabbit or give up beer.

Your path to a healthier life starts here:

www.myhealthybalance.com.au HealthSmart Solutions

(08) 9436 6284 [email protected] www.healthsmartsolutions.com.au

Why me? I’m too busy to deal with this condition...

Diabetes is no big deal...

I’d like to understand more...

Do you have type 2 diabetes? Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind?

I think I’ll ignore it...

I’m feeling overwhelmed!

If so, call DESMOND Australia on 1300 136 588. Have you met DESMOND? DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) is a program designed to support people living with type 2 diabetes. Delivered by specially trained educators, DESMOND will empower you with a better understanding of what type 2 diabetes can mean for you. During the single day course, you will gain practical skills and learn about food choices, physical activity and medical interactions. DESMOND is available at locations across WA. Bookings are essential for all DESMOND programs, and can be made by calling Diabetes WA on 1300 136 588, or by emailing [email protected].

Listening to you. Learning together.

DESMOND Australia in collaboration with DESMOND United Kingdom

1300 136 588 www.desmondaustralia.com.au