Official welcome

Mr John Bell was appointed to the Board of Australian Diabetes Council in May 2001. He is also Vice President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation and Past President of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association. He operates a community pharmacy practice. Mr Bell also serves on the national board of Australia Medic Alert Foundation, is a member of the Health Promotion Committee of Asthma NSW and honorary pharmacist to the Coeliac Society of Australia. .

John Bell

Intro & housekeeping

Linda is the General Manager Health Services at Diabetes NSW & ACT, responsible for the team that delivers almost 1,000 education sessions and events for people living with diabetes for the NDSS and some PHNs. She has a Masters in Commerce and Graduate Diploma in Counselling and firmly believes that education for health professionals and people with diabetes leads to more effective self-care, which leads to reduced complications and better health outcomes.

Linda Farrugia

Pre-recorded welcome message from John Bell.
Introduction to the day
Speaker Presentation: Many people with diabetes will require medication to manage blood glucose levels and long-term complications, and we are fortunate to have an increasing number of oral and injectable therapies available. However, this also presents challenges in selecting the most appropriate agent to optimise individual outcomes. Current evidence suggests medication use considering comorbidities, potential risks and patient preference. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the current medications for diabetes management, potential roles for each class, as well as practical considerations.

Diabetes Medication Update Many people with diabetes will require medication to manage blood glucose levels and long-term complications, and we are fortunate to have an increasing number of oral and injectable therapies available. However, this also presents challenges in selecting the most appropriate agent to optimise individual outcomes. Current evidence suggests medication use considering comorbidities, potential risks and patient preference. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the current medications for diabetes management, potential roles for each class, as well as practical considerations.  

My background is in hospital pharmacy, clinical education and medication reviews in the community and aged care. I am currently a pharmacist with the Diabetes Service at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, collaborating to provide patient focused, pragmatic medication support. I believe pharmacists have a valuable contribution to make to the diabetes management team and I enjoy teaching future practitioners. I am constantly learning thanks to the generosity of people with diabetes and multidisciplinary colleagues.

Jane Ludington CDE                                                                                                                                                                  Pharmacist & Credentialled Diabetes Educator

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the benefits and risks of different classes of medication for diabetes management.
• Compare the action profiles of currently available insulin preparations.
• Identify resources available to support optimal choice of medication for people with diabetes.

Disordered eating rates amongst people living with type 2 diabetes - How can healthcare professionals and teams help to reduce rates? People with type 2 diabetes are at significant risk of developing disordered eating patterns and weight concern distress. A times these factors can undermine diabetes-related self-care. Weight-neutral approach frameworks focus on supporting people to develop positive body image and healthy lifestyle behaviours, regardless of weight. This presentation will discuss what flags to look out for in your clients, and how a weight-neutral approach may assist. 

Fiona Willer is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian who combines academic research, university lecturing and public speaking with creating professional development resources and training for health professionals through her business, Health, Not Diets. Her research areas are dietetic private practice benchmarking, inter-professional learning, health consciousness and dietary quality and the integration of weight neutral lifestyle approaches (including Health at Every Size® and the Non-Diet Approach) into the practice of health professionals, particularly dietitians. Fiona has served on the boards of international and domestic organisations including HAES Australia, the Association for Size Diversity and Health and now Dietitians Australia. Creator of the innovative Unpacking Weight Science professional development podcast, Fiona has great enthusiasm for both interrogating weight research and overusing food and eating metaphors in everyday life.

Fiona Willer

Learning Objectives

• Identify risk factors for disordered eating and eating disorders in people with type 2 diabetes
• Recognise disordered eating cognitions and behaviours in people with type 2 diabetes
• Understand weight-neutral approach frameworks and their application in this population

Services and programs

Linda is the General Manager Health Services at Diabetes NSW & ACT, responsible for the team that delivers almost 1,000 education sessions and events for people living with diabetes for the NDSS and some PHNs. She has a Masters in Commerce and Graduate Diploma in Counselling and firmly believes that education for health professionals and people with diabetes leads to more effective self-care, which leads to reduced complications and better health outcomes.

Linda Farrugia 
Chief Operating Officer Diabetes Queensland Moderator

Wound care and diabetes Foot ulcers are a common and devastating consequence of Diabetes. These hard-to heal wounds affect up to 25 % of people and frequently result in amputation. We will take a look at the reasons that cause people to get wounds as well as types of wounds and how they are classified. Recently, advances in technology have changed the face of wound prevention, assessment and management. We will look at these new and exciting developments and how they might improve outcomes for people with diabetes in the future.  

Frances is an experienced clinician, researcher and scientist with her primary research focusing on the prevention and management of Diabetes related complications. Through her clinical and academic work, Frances has observed first-hand the devastating consequences of Diabetes related foot ulceration, including immobility, amputation, despair and subsequent depression. After completing a PhD looking at wound healing, she built a research team; including biomedical engineers to investigate, design and test low-cost support-surfaces which prevent ulceration. Her work adds to the growing body of evidence regarding ulcer prevention. Seeing her patients suffer has ignited a passion and drive to improve healthcare outcomes. Frances believes this can only be achieved by finding better ways to collaborate, undertake research, and implement findings into clinical practice.

Dr Frances Henshaw

Learning Objectives

• Understand why people with diabetes get wounds
• Describing wounds and their classification
• New horizons-understanding new technologies in wound prevention, assessment and management

Type 2 diabetes ambassador Suellyn Harrison interviewed by Angela Blair DNSW & ACT CDE Angela Blair interviewing an Ambassadors on her life with type 2 diabetes.   

I am mother of four, wife of many years and I am currently working for the Uniting Aged Care, Hand & Nail Care which I have done so for the past 21 years. I chat to the residents, give them a manicure and paint their nails.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 43 years ago and found it challenging to find resources on how to look after yourself when diagnosed with diabetes. I lead an active life playing netball, volunteering and going on holidays to my favourite destination at Crescent Heads or overseas.

Suellyn Harrison

Angela Blair
RN & CDE from Diabetes NSW & ACT

Talking about emotional health in a diabetes care setting Australian studies have found that around one in four people with diabetes experience significant psychological distress arising directly from the impact of living with diabetes over the longer term. This distress can have a negative impact on both diabetes self- management and on health outcomes. Diabetes distress is best identified and addressed within regular diabetes care, however many clinicians feel unsure how to approach conversations about emotional health within their practices. This presentation will cover the 'how to' of talking about mental well-being within a diabetes care consultation together with providing some practical tools to assist people experiencing diabetes related distress.   

Dr Vered Gordon has been working in general practice in the Northern Beaches of Sydney for over 25 years. In recent years she has focused specifically on the areas of mental health and counselling which now comprise the greater part of her practice. Dr Gordon has undergone further training in psychological medicine including a Diploma of Shared Care in Psychiatry with the NSW Institute of Psychiatry and a Graduate Diploma in Systemic Relationship Therapy. She is also a fellow of the Australian Society of Psychological Medicine. Dr Gordon is the former General Practice Education Program Developer for the Black Dog Institute, developing and facilitating education in mental health for health professionals throughout Australia.

Dr Vered Gordon

Learning Objectives

• Increase confidence in talking about emotional health within a diabetes consultation
• Engage in person centred problem solving to address emotional concerns
• Facilitate the development of a more helpful diabetes narrative for people with diabetes distress

A collaborative approach to improving management of diabetes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities Many influences on every day life contribute to a person’s ability to self-manage diabetes. The social, economic, educational, and emotional impact of past and present experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities require awareness and acknowledgement by health professionals, with a focus on key contributors influencing patient motivation, choice and ability. A collaborative approach between client and health care teams promote integration and best opportunity for optimal outcomes. 

Louise Brown is a registered nurse, and credentialed diabetes educator, with a particular interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. She has more recently worked at the Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern for 4 years and is currently employed with Sydney Local Health District as Chronic and Complex Care CNC (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community).

Louise Brown RN CDE
Registered Nurse & Credentialled Diabetes Educator

Learning Objectives

• The health professional will have a greater awareness of the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and reflect on these influences when providing diabetes management.
• The health care provider will be able to identify key considerations for supporting and improving diabetes management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, based on their past and present experiences
• The health professional will be able to highlight the benefits of a collaborative and holistic approach to diabetes care when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, in a manner that empowers both client and health professional.