DIABETES PLAN

July 16, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Doctors in the Hunter are trying to reduce the number of diabetics who suffer debilitating complications.

They’ve launched a strategy designed to ensure that people living with the disease get the best possible care.

Naomi Malcolm is one of 25,000 people in the Hunter living with diabetes, and managing the disease is a large part of her life.

“It’s a matter of getting up early enough to make sure I can test my glucose, have breakfast, have my insulin. Then when it comes around to lunch time and dinner time, it’s the same routine.”

General practitioners have launched a new plan, calling on people with the disease to have a check up with their doctor at least once a year, to ensure they’re getting the right care, and to avoid any side effects.

GP Dr Mark Foster said “Increased rates of blindness, amputations from damage to the blood vessels going to the legs. Kidney failure and it’s also a major contributer to the high rates of heart disease we have in our region and 25% of hospital admissions.”

Losing weight, eating healthy foods and exercising can also reduce the risk of developing diabetes.