Diabetes Australia has underscored its commitment towards South Australia’s leading diabetes researchers with $450,000 to support seven projects, including a prestigious Type 2 Diabetes Millennium Award.
Projects receiving funding include a study into the impact of artificial sweeteners on people with type 2 diabetes, optimum meal times for shift workers and peptides produced by platypuses and echidnas.
A $2.8 million funding boost will help Diabetes Australia deliver new programs to help reduce the rates of preventable diabetes-related blindness and limb amputation.
Diabetes Australia welcomed the Morrison Government’s announcement of new funding for Foot Forward - a new diabetes-related amputations prevention initiative, and funding for KeepSight - a new initiative to promote diabetes eye checks and prevent vision loss and blindness.
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition in which the immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Preserving the ability of these cells to produce insulin or transplanting healthy cells could unlock exciting new treatment options for people living with the condition, but researchers still need to overcome a number of challenges before this approach is viable.
Diabetes Australia is funding two promising studies in this area including research conducted by Professor Kerry-Anne Rye, at the University of New South Wales, into preserving the function of insulin producing beta-cells.
A new app linked with a heart rate monitor could be key to helping more people incorporate physical activity into their diabetes management. The new app is one of a number of new research programs to receive funding from Diabetes Australia.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said four important Queensland research projects were being funded.
“We are pleased to be funding Professor Jeffery Coombes who is looking at ways of helping people improve and sustain their rate of physical activity – an important part of diabetes management,” Professor Johnson said.
Diabetes Australia today issued a wakeup call about the diabetes epidemic which is overwhelming Australia’s hospitals after a new study found that people with diabetes accounted for around one-third of all hospitalisations.
The Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance welcomes the recent Federal Labor announcement, if elected, of a $115.6 million investment in a healthier Australia.
Chair of the Alliance Sharon McGowan said the commitment reflected the growing burden of chronic disease in this country and the urgent need for action to stem its tide.
The Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance has welcomed last week’s Budget statement and announcements by both the Government and the Opposition to invest in chronic disease treatment and care, while calling on the major parties to commit to more action on prevention in the upcoming election campaign.
The 2019-20 Government Budget commitments for primary care, research and chronic disease Action Plans were welcomed, in addition to funding to tackle heart disease and stroke, announced on Thursday.
The Opposition’s Budget reply further recognised the burden of chronic disease in its focus on cancer and significant commitment of $2.3 billion to reduce cancer inequities and patient costs.
Diabetes Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Lee to a new role to strengthen the focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and diabetes.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said he was excited that Chris had taken on the challenge to help improve outcomes for First Nations people with diabetes.
“Chris is from the Larrakia peoples of Darwin in the Northern Territory and brings more than 25 years’ experience in effective engagement and consultation with First Nations communities,” Professor Johnson said.
Around 630,000 Australians with diabetes are at risk of vision loss or blindness because they aren’t having their eyes checked regularly.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said diabetes was a leading cause of preventable blindness in working age Australians, yet with regular eye checks, most vision loss was preventable.
Diabetes Australia has welcomed the announcement by Hon Ken Wyatt AM, Minister for Indigenous Health of nearly $4m in funding to develop, pilot and implement new, culturally appropriate programs in Northern Australia to specifically help Indigenous children and youth affected by type 2 diabetes.
“West Australian data has shown rates of type 2 diabetes in young Aboriginal people may be 20-fold higher than in non-Indigenous young people,” said Professor Greg Johnson, CEO of Diabetes Australia.
