New study from Singapore asks how can artificial intelligence help and what are the risks? By Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries. Healthcare is no exception. The use of AI to support diabetes management is not new. For example, My Diabetes Coach used a ‘conversational’ agent, who was acceptable and effective for many people who used the app. But, until recently, access to such programs had been limited. Now, advanced AI programs, like ChatGPT, are freely available. And they are changing the way people access information. This includes the way p ..read more

The ACBRD reviews the evidence for the benefits of a structured approach to blood glucose monitoring By Dr Shaira Baptista Checking blood glucose levels can be helpful if you have diabetes. But the current guidelines do not fully support its use for all people with diabetes. This is because there isn’t enough proof that it benefits people with type 2 diabetes who don’t use insulin. One reason could be that random checks of blood glucose don’t offer enough information, and the person doesn’t always know what to do with it or has barriers to acting on the information. However, there is another w ..read more

A review of the evidence finds the impacts are far reaching By Dr Eloise Litterbach Around one in seven pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM). GDM is managed with healthy eating, physical activity, glucose monitoring and, sometimes, with medication(s). Pregnancy is already a time of great change, both physical and emotional. So, diagnosis of GDM can come as a shock, and cause added stress. Some women report feeling ashamed of having GDM. They are concerned about how others might view them, and judge them. These are examples of ‘diabetes stigma’. There are two main types ..read more

Our review examines use of Person Reported Outcome Measure in type 2 diabetes care By Dr Rita McMorrow People with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience mental health problems than people without diabetes. Most people with type 2 diabetes see a general practitioner (GP) for their diabetes care. So, GPs need to be able to detect and address emotional concerns. Diabetes guidelines advise that clinical care should include assessment of depression and diabetes distress. This can be done with a Person-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM). But our survey showed that it seldom occurs in general pr ..read more

And how does this link to their emotional wellbeing? By Sienna Russell-Green It can be tricky to navigate being a young adult. It is a time when many things are changing. There are new experiences, e.g., driving, a new job, university. There are often changes in social support and relationships too. It can be even more complex for young adults with type 1 diabetes. They may struggle to find a routine for managing their diabetes. It’s not a surprise that mental health concerns are common. These include depression, anxiety, diabetes distress and disordered eating. Health professionals are a ..read more

Our Centre’s research explored the views of Australian adults with type 1 diabetes using open-source technologies By Dr Roslyn Le Gautier Historically, commercial companies have developed, built, and supplied advanced diabetes devices. These include insulin pumps and glucose monitoring systems. However, industry needs to prove that the systems are safe and effective. Gaining regulatory approval is a complex process. This means there is often a long wait before devices can be used in their daily lives. More and more people with type 1 diabetes are unwilling to wait for commercial solutions. Ins ..read more

The World Health Organization (WHO) surveyed over 900 people to answer this important question. By Dr Roslyn Le Gautier The WHO has been criticised for how it portrays diabetes. On more than one occasion, the WHO presented diabetes as simply a condition of “poor lifestyle choices”. So, the WHO surveyed over 900 people affected by diabetes to learn how to improve their media messaging. The survey asked how people with diabetes are portrayed in the media, how they would prefer to be portrayed, and the values the WHO needs to reflect in its messaging about diabetes. This is what the people who to ..read more

Researchers from Norway have examined data over 20 years to find out By Sarah Manallack We can feel lonely when our social relationships do not match what we want in terms of quantity and quality. These feelings can cause emotional distress. Loneliness and distress activate our body’s stress response. This is a system known as the HPA axis. Activating the HPA axis increases cortisol, which is a stress hormone. It also affects the body’s release of glucose and response to insulin. Feeling lonely can also increase our appetite, which can increase weight and blood glucose levels. Research shows t ..read more

By Dr Steven Trawley More than 400,000 Australians manage their diabetes with insulin. This puts them at risk of low glucose levels (hypos). Guidelines for those who drive focus on avoiding hypos. Drivers with insulin-treated diabetes are advised to start their journey only when their glucose is above 5 mmol/L. They are also advised to recheck their glucose every two hours. The “Don’t drive under 5” guidelines are based indirectly on studies linking low glucose to reductions in cognitive function, driving performance and risk of car crash. Prior to our study being published, there was little d ..read more

The Centre has developed and tested a new website to reduce myths and misconceptions about insulin for type 2 diabetes By Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott Insulin is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Around 25% of Australians with T2D inject insulin. That is more than 300,000 people. However, insulin treatment is often delayed. Around one in four adults with T2D report that they are not willing to inject insulin if recommended by their health professional. This reluctance is often called ‘psychological insulin resistance’. It is often based on myths and misconceptions, an ..read more