By Tate Papworth
A revolutionary Western Health program is improving diabetes detection across Victoria.
Western Health researchers have created screening software to enable the early detection of patients at high risk of diabetes or those unknowingly living with the disease.
The program, CD IMPACT (Chronic Disease early detection and Improved Management in Primary Care project), has been trialled at more than 16 GP clinics in metropolitan and regional areas. It alerts doctors of patients with abnormally high blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is a significant problem in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
According to Western Health, a third of all its inpatients are affected, while rates of diabetes in Melton and Brimbank local government areas are higher than the national average of 5.1 per cent – seven per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively.
Western Health endocrinology and diabetes head Shane Hamblin said the results of the trial were promising.
“We often see patients who come in with complications of diabetes, but what we want to do is nip it in the bud to manage it earlier and more efficiently,” Associate Professor Hamblin said.
“This software program sits behind the scenes and prompts GPs to recognise that someone has diabetes.
“It brings it to the GP’s attention when they are often dealing with a lot of information, and, down the track, can help them build up a picture of how many patients have diabetes in that clinic.”
He said it was hoped the program would be adopted by GP clinics around Australia for a range of chronic diseases. The program is a collaboration between Western Health, Victoria University and the University of Melbourne.
Wednesday, November 14, is International Diabetes Day, a global awareness initiative led by the International Diabetes Federation.
