Distinguished Professor Tracy Levett-Jones is researching how to enhance empathy skills in healthcare professionals to care for people living with diabetes.

Professor Levett-Jones and her team have been awarded a 2024 Diabetes Australia Research Program grant to conduct her study at the University of Technology Sydney.

“Empathetic care is essential for helping people manage chronic conditions such as diabetes,” Professor Levett-Jones said.

“This project will enhance healthcare professionals’ capacity to provide empathetic care to people with diabetes, which in turn will improve consumers’ self-management, treatment adherence and glycaemic control, as well as decreasing their anxiety and distress.”

There are more than 1.5 million Australians living with all types of diabetes. Complications of the condition can include heart and kidney disease, stroke, amputations, vision loss and depression.

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said this year’s DARP recipients were undertaking work that would change the lives of people with diabetes.

“Research is critical in our fight to drive change to prevent, treat and, ultimately, cure diabetes,” Ms Cain said.

“Diabetes research creates hope for the future.”

Diabetes Australia has been funding diabetes research for more than 30 years through the Diabetes Australia Research Program.

“Over the past 10 years alone, Diabetes Australia has invested more than $30 million in supporting nearly 450 critical research initiatives across all types of diabetes,” Ms Cain said.

Diabetes Australia has launched a new campaign calling for more research funding called ‘Diabetes Research Changes Lives’. Members of the community can also support diabetes research by making a donation. Find out more about how to support us.