First Nations patients in regional Queensland have seen significant improvement in their management of Type 2 diabetes under a new programme backed by James Cook University researchers, leading to calls to expand it state-wide.
A recent year-long study made up of 119 patients from around the Mackay area found that those who participated in the Together Strong Connected Care (TSCC) Programme enjoyed a significantly greater reduction in their average blood sugar than those in the non-TSCC group.
The multidisciplinary diabetes intervention programme included comprehensive lifestyle advice through a team of healthcare professionals, including a nurse practitioner, credentialled diabetes educator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Liaison Officers, dieticians, physiotherapists and virtual health support officers.
With recent national data showing that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely to develop diabetes as compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, Staff Specialist Endocrinologist at the Mackay Base Hospital and JCU A/Prof Dr Harshal Deshmukh said the results of the study were hugely promising.
"The level of reduction in HbA1c (blood sugar levels) is quite remarkable, because generally we really struggle to treat Type 2 diabetes for people living in remote and regional communities," he said.
"When we are looking at First Nations' communities there is generally a lot less awareness about diabetes management and the other complications around it.
"But through this multi-disciplinary approach we proved that you can actually have good outcomes for diabetes, rather than us just seeing them in a diabetes clinic and then asking them to come back after three months."
Participants were referred from GPs, community health workers and hospital workers, with the programme providing one-on-one education and care management, group lifestyle sessions and community event education through a range of face-to-face meetings.
"This was a small study in one centre but if we were to replicate these findings in multiple regional Queensland centres, I think it could really help build a national framework," Dr Deshmukh said.
"I also think this multi-disciplinary approach would work not just for diabetes, but for other chronic conditions affecting First Nations and people in remote communities as well.
"The evidence is clearly there in our initial data and we should be trying to expand the programme beyond just one centre."
Research paper co-author and JCU Professor Usman Malabu said government support is needed to roll out the programme state-wide and right across Australia's vast rural and remote areas.
"The TSCC approach could be expanded to other rural, regional and people of First Nations' settlements where access to diabetes specialists is limited or non-existent," Prof Malabu said.
"Another benefit is the incorporation of general health education on top of medications as a major contributory factor to improved diabetes care, and in some cases reversal of blood sugar levels back to pre-diabetes levels.
"The paper showed the power of motivational intervention and coupled with this holistic and culturally responsive educational programme, we were able to yield great results to these people managing Type 2 Diabetes."
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