‘Heads up’ on diabetes

East Grampians Health Service is shining a light on its diabetes education team to coincide with National Diabetes Week, which runs until Saturday.

The service has two diabetes educators, Julie Lang and Bree Fratin, who are available from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, to help people living with diabetes.

Chief executive Andrew Freeman said the educators worked with all diabetes patients – pre-diabetes, type one, type two and gestational diabetes – and helped with equipment, education and information about diabetes, medication and self-management of the condition.

“In addition to helping those with diabetes, our diabetes educators support their families, friends and the wider community to help manage their diabetes,” he said.

The theme of this year’s National Diabetes Week is ‘Heads up on

Diabetes’, focusing on supporting the emotional and mental health of people living with diabetes.

Mr Freeman said each day people living with diabetes might have to make about 180 extra decisions, from what food to eat, keeping track of medication, exercise and ‘literally hundreds of other issues that affect their diabetes, just to manage the condition and stay healthy’.

Through National Diabetes Week, Diabetes Australia will be working to raise awareness of the mental and emotional challenges of managing diabetes and highlight the services and support available to the diabetes community.

There are three main types of diabetes – type one, type two and gestational diabetes.

Mr Freeman said people could call 5352 9327 to make an appointment with a diabetes educator.