Diabetes Clinic

The Diabetes Clinic is run by the Illawarra Diabetes Service. It is focussed on:

• Patient education about
• Diabetes in general
  • Glucose monitoring, and glucose targets
  • Diabetes treatments including lifestyle management, tablets and injectable treatments like insulin
  • Hypoglycaemia symptoms and treatment
  • Sick day management
  • Issues related to exercise, driving, pregnancy and other special situations.
• Achieving good glycaemic control assessed by self-monitored blood glucose levels and usually HbA1c (reflects an average sugar level over the last three months)
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular screening for diabetes complications
  • to assess the retina; note that cataracts and glaucoma are also more common in patients with diabetes) – usually checks should be done at least yearly
  • regular kidney checks (urine albumin/creatine ratio, creatinine and eGFR), usually at least yearly, mostly 2x/year
  • regular foot examination with podiatry care if there are foot related complications or the patient cannot manage their own foot care; at least yearly checks if no symptoms, may be required much more frequently if symptoms
  • regular review of Lipid levels and good Blood pressure to help avoid diabetes related complications on the cardiovascular system (heart attacks, strokes, peripheral vascular disease/gangrene and other diabetic foot problems); smoking avoidance and cessation are important for this as well.

HealthPathways links

• Diabetic Foot Screening
• High Risk Foot Assessment.