LIFE! Taking Action on Diabetes

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Helping your patients prevent type 2 diabetes

AMA Victorian President Dr Harry Hemley on type 2 diabetes prevention

Excerpts from Dr Hemley's speech at the launch of Victoria's Diabetes epidemic 10 Years On on type 2 diabetes prevention on 7 November 2011:

"When we get into our 40s and 50s we don’t exercise enough. And the problem is how do you get people to exercise, lose weight and consider what they’re putting in their mouths. It’s a difficult problem and the Life! program helps people to do that and we should be referring plenty of people to the Life! program because it is extremely helpful."

"Diabetes Australia (Vic) has for many years been a huge support to my patients in general practice and I’ve always recognised it as being a great organisation and we should continue to support it as much as we can. This information that they are providing to the community is very important."

"Diabetes Australia (Vic) does a great job. We should be supporting Diabetes Australia (Vic). I encourage Diabetes Australia (Vic) to continue the great work that they’re doing and we should be very proud of them."

Listen to the full speech here (right click and save file as)

Case finding funding for GP practices

Funding is available for GP practices to facilitate patient referral into the Life! program. Practices who sign up to this initiative will be funded for staff time to systematically identify patients at high risk of type 2 diabetes and refer them into the Life! program.

Payment to participating practices under this Agreement will be made based on submission of an invoice to DA–Vic for supplying 15 eligible patient referrals to either a local Life! facilitator or the Life! program central referral team.

All new Agreements will be valid until the end of financial year (30 June 2012).

For further information, please download the Case Finding Agreement or contact the Primary Care Prevention Coordinator on 03 9667 1773 or MJones@diabetesvic.org.au

If you are using the PEN Clinical Audit Tool, download the search directions to help you identify patients at risk of type 2 diabetes.

A template letter to send to patients at risk of diabetes has been developed. Download the version on Life! letterhead, or a plain version to be copied and pasted onto practice letterhead.

For further information on case finding, please contact us.

ASK

Identify people at risk of diabetes in your practice:

Waiting room Life! poster, Diabetes Risk Tests and Life! Brochures.

Patient questionnaires.

Search patient database for those who have risk factors, including:

Pre-diabetes
Impaired fasting glucose
Impaired glucose tolerance
Family history of diabetes
High blood pressure
Overweight or obesity

Reception staff can hand AUSDRISK test to patients 40 years and above.

During consultation, encourage patients to complete the AUSDRISK test.

ASSESS

Assess patients’ risk of diabetes

Send a letter and AUSDRISK test to all patients at risk of diabetes, identified through patient database search.

Verify the patient’s AUSDRISK test score.

Did the patient score six or above?

YES – Organise appropriate tests to exclude type 2 diabetes. Diabetes should be excluded by a fasting blood glucose (FBG) test and, if necessary an oral glucose tolerance test (OGT).

NO – Affirm positive lifestyle behaviours.