GPs - Key Educators In Prevention Of Diabetes, Australia

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 16 Nov 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) warmly welcomes the two pronged themes of prevention of and education that are the focus of World Diabetes Day (14 November).

"Recent research is predicting that one in seven Australians will have type 2 diabetes by 2050," said RACGP president, Dr Chris Mitchell.

"With their knowledge and skill in delivering preventive health care strategies and educating those at risk of diabetes, GPs will be key players in avoiding a national health crisis," said Dr Mitchell.

"GPs provide cradle-to-grave care and consult with more than 85% of Australians annually. There is no group better equipped to provide solutions and we welcome the excellent work Diabetes Australia is doing to raise community awareness of this looming crisis. It is crucial that the RACGP continues to work with such specialist organizations in the delivery of preventive health care," said Dr Mitchell.

"Patients need to be aware that their GP is an expert when it comes to discussing lifestyle changes that can prevent diabetes and that they can provide management support to those who have already developed the condition."

The role of GPs in encouraging people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to take up the Life! Course http://www.diabeteslife.org.au is central to the World Diabetes Day message. The aim of the course is to educate the community about the condition and the risk factors which can contribute to developing diabetes.

The RACGP's Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice recommends that patients should be screened for diabetes every 3 years from 45 years of age using the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be screened from 18 years of age. See RACGP, Diabetes Management in General Practice guidelines with Diabetes Australia http://www.racgp.org.au/guidelines/diabetes.

Source
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

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