Diabetes educator awarded state gong
Second award for AH Diabetes Toowoomba
A TOOWOOMBA health business has been awarded a prestigious Queensland award for the second time in two years.
AH Diabetes director, registered nurse Lynne McCleary, has been named Credentialled Diabetes Educator of the Year for Queensland.
Another member of AH Diabetes team, Kate Mundy, won the award in 2016.
“That’s not bad for a little place like Toowoomba,” Mrs McCleary said.
“There’s no other private practice that I know of that has won two awards.”
AH Diabetes staff educate people on the various aspects of diabetes, living with the ailment and preventative measures.
“We educate individuals, groups and we go into the schools,” Ms McLeary said.
“We build a rapport with the patient and we ask the person what they want.
“No-one comes in here skipping happily but I want the people who come in here to leave smiling.”
Mrs McCleary said diabetes of all types was on the rise because of a range of reasons but mainly the modern day diet.
“We’re heading for a pandemic of diabetes in the world,” she said.
“In my view, generally, our bodies haven’t changed the way our food has changed.
“A lot of our foods are processed to the hilt, we hardly even need to chew.
“The availability of fast food is probably our downfall.”
Mrs McCleary believes the world has to take a proactive approach and look to preventative measures to combat diabetes including balanced diet and exercise.
“Food is important, but so is exercise,” she said.
Mrs McCleary said being awarded Queensland’s diabetes educator of the year was all the more pleasing because she had been nominated by colleagues and clients.
National awards winners will be announced in August.