Diabetes Matters - online subscriptions are no longer available Winter 2015 | Page 27

“We used to think that complications were
inevitable, but now we know that with a
healthy lifestyle and intensive therapy you
can work to avoid diabetes complications.”

Take charge!
Don’t forget self-care

Diabetes WA also offers renowned
education courses such as DESMOND
and DAFNE that help people to live well
with their diabetes.

For Jacqui the first step was to accept her
condition and not to ignore it. “A lot of
people say that ‘diabetes has to learn to
live with me’,” she said. “But I’ve always
said that I have diabetes, so I need to
do the right thing and learn to live with
the diabetes.”
Learning to live with diabetes means
taking steps to include self-care in
everyday life – keeping a blood glucose
diary, checking your feet every morning
for signs of swelling or redness, or
exercising for 30 minutes a day.

“The education
courses give people
knowledge, and with
knowledge comes
empowerment,”

Nip it in the bud with
regular check-ups

A healthy lifestyle
is the foundation

Health appointments can seem never
ending but they are vital in catching
potential complications early. These
health checks should include the
three Bs.
“You may need to remind your health
professional to do it,” said Sandy. “If your
doctor is escorting you out of the room,
stick your arm out and say ‘please do my
blood pressure!’”

Accept guidance
Diabetes can feel isolating but there are
many passionate people ready to support
you on your health journey.
“I would advise any of my patients with
diabetes to talk to a diabetes educator,”
says Dr Wright. “They have the time to
spend with people and work with them
on an individual basis.”

said Dr Wright.

According to our experts, a healthy
lifestyle is an effective foundation for
managing all types of diabetes. This
includes healthy eating, plenty of exercise
and maintaining a healthy weight
Jacqui’s positive and proactive attitude
to diabetes management has paid off.
In 2014 Jacqui was awarded a Kellion
Victory Award for living with insulindependent diabetes for 50 years.
“I felt really special,” said Jacqui. “I felt
like I had done the right thing by myself,
because in the end it’s up to you. Now I’m
looking forward to my 60 years Kellion!”
For more information on diabetes
education courses email bookings@
diabeteswa.com.au To speak to a
Credentialled Diabetes Educator on
the Diabetes WA Information and
Advice Line (DIAL) call 1300 136 588.

Changing
times?
Maybe not
Dr Joe Kosterich M.B.B.S
www.drjoe.net.au

T

here is an old adage that the
more things change, the more
they stay the same. Not long ago
there were few medications available
to treat diabetes (especially type 2);
diet and lifestyle were paramount.
Over the decade up to 2013 the US FDA
approved 30 new drugs for the treatment
of diabetes. A review found that, while all
had been found to improve HbA1c, none
had been shown to reduce the likelihood
of heart attack, stroke or blindness.
Indeed in some there were significant side
effects.

So, newer is not always better.
At the same time, there has been renewed
focus on how individuals can manage
their own health. We know that regular
exercise and good nutrition may lead to
great improvement in overall wellbeing,
blood markers, medication reliance and
weight.
This trend back to self-care certainly
bears truth to the old adage.

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