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Hi there!,
Today, the Type 1 Diabetes Network is Launching
A Statement of Issues affecting Australians with
Type 1 Diabetes
 Senator Guy Barnett, Senator for Tasmania and also a Type 1 Diabetic, will launch the Statement today at the Australian Diabetes Society & Australian Diabetes
Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting.
Senator Barnett said he was concerned about the poor health outcomes in Australians with Type 1 Diabetes and that
the Statement represents a step in the right direction for improving services and
health outcomes for all Australians with Type 1 Diabetes.
Assoc Prof Maarten Kamp, an Endocrinologist with a major interest in diabetes in young adults, and President, Australian Diabetes Society said that national leadership
and a shared commitment across jurisdictions and the health care sector was the best way to address these issues.
"Most people with Type 1 Diabetes require complex support with the management of their Diabetes that is currently unavailable," Assoc Prof Kamp said. "Patients report making treatment decisions that lead to suboptimal outcomes, because of a lack of specialist medical advice, and this is even more critical in rural and regional areas.
Five months ago, the Type 1 Diabetes Network formed the
Type 1 Diabetes Opinion Leaders Group, and were overwhelmed with nominations from people with Type 1. We were also delighted that many organisations jumped on board: the Paediatric Endicrine Group, Diabetes Educators Association, Dietitians Association, Medical Technology Association, Australian Diabetes Society (the endos), the College of Ophthalmologists and others.
 The group has worked together since April to identify the issues that need urgent attention to improve Type 1 Diabetes in Australia.
We also developed solutions, big and small, to fix them!
The ten issues announced today are:- Access to specialist medical care is very limited, especially in rural and remote areas
- Complexity of Type 1 Diabetes is not well understood
- Coping with long-term complications is left to the individualwith minimal resources
- Hospital admissions, planned and emergency, are poorly managed when a diabetes team is not involved
- System for the essential long-term monitoring of Type 1 Diabetes is inefficient and highly ineffective
- Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical stage with the worst outcomes
- Access to the best treatments and technologies is dependent on ability to pay, not medical need
- Training schools and teachers about the needs of children with Type 1 Diabetes occurs haphazardly
- Peer learning opportunities are essential but very limited and difficult to access
- Leadership and advocacy for Type 1 Diabetes needs to be strengthened urgently.
WHAT NEXT?
1. We are forming a Network of Issue Champions.
If any of the issues and solutions push your buttons, and you would like to take the lead on helping us strategically pursue change and improvements, please contact Kate Gilbert on kate@d1.org.au or 0402 515 825 to discuss.
2. We will share examples of excellent work underway.
To submit an initiative, project or service which addresses the key issues identified, please click here. Each month, an initiative which has been submitted will be featured in our newsletter about Type 1 Diabetes, and we are looking for opportunities and partnerships to develop a Clearinghouse.
3. Solutions are awaiting your action!
Against each issue, the Opinion Leaders Group has highlighted solutions needing urgent attention. We have also come up with 101 Solutions for Type 1 Diabetes, big and small, during the development of the Statement.
Can you find one to implement, or advocate for, today?
Many thanks to the individuals and organisations who gave their time and energies to this work, and are committed to improving Type 1 Diabetes in Australia.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Gilbert
Founder & President (Volunteer)
The Type 1 Diabetes Network
www.d1.org.au
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