Diabetes Australia calls for national screening and recall system

Diabetes Australia is calling for targeted national screening of pregnant women with a recall system to help treat the increasing incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) following the first national report on gestational diabetes. The Australian Institute of Health & Welfare’s Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, 2005-06.
 
Diabetes Australia National President, Dr Gary Deed, says part of the fight to turn diabetes around starts both before and during pregnancy.
 
“Understanding the risks involved with gestational diabetes and the increasing number of cases over recent years, it is more important than ever all health services implement targeted national testing to help curb the incidence of complications that can occur as a result of GDM”.
 
Dr Deed said “a third of women with type 2 diabetes in Australia might have been identified earlier through screening for GDM, combined with a national recall system for women affected similar to cervical screening. This would lead to better treatment and pregnancy outcomes.  It would also improve detection and management of women at risk for future development of type 2 diabetes”.
 
GDM is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes develop high levels of blood glucose during pregnancy. A significant modifiable risks factor is to maintain a healthy weight before and during pregnancy. Women with GDM are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
 
For the estimated 75,502 women and their babies that are affected, Diabetes Australia also wants to see improved education and a improved services to help those most at risk – Aboriginal Torres Strait islander women, Women from cross cultural backgrounds and women over the age of 30 years to improve detection and management of GDM.
 
Typically women with gestational diabetes exhibit no symptoms but some may demonstrate increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, bladder infection, yeast infection and blurred vision.
 
There are currently 918,218 people diagnosed with diabetes in Australia and Diabetes Australia is committed to turning diabetes around through awareness, detection, prevention, management and cure.  
 
Diabetes Australia supports screening for GDM to maximise detection and early intervention of diabetes in pregnancy and identify those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  Diabetes Australia also supports a GDM recall system similar to the cervical screening program to help early detection of type 2 diabetes and early treatment before the onset of complications.
 
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CONTACT
Dr Gary Deed, National President, Diabetes Australia – 0411 171 790
Dr Ian White, National Policy Manager, Diabetes Australia – 0418 389 671