Advocacy, generosity, collaboration, and innovation to enhance diabetes self-management for people living in the Kimberley.

Diabetes-related complications are one of the most debilitating factors impacting residents of the Kimberley.

Our diabetes educators are currently assessing the efficacy, practicalities and acceptability of using continuous glucose monitoring devices with clients with Type 2 diabetes across the Kimberley.

Boab Health Services are enormously grateful to the Rotary Club of Hawthorn for their long term support.

In January, thanks to the passionate and committed advocacy by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn and a generous donation from Abbott, Boab Health Services has gratefully received $21,000 worth of FreeStyle Libres – a sensor-based glucose monitoring system consisting of a sensor worn on the back of the arm scanned with a smartphone App or reader.

The FreeStyle Libre captures glucose levels for 24 hours over a 14 day period and eliminates the need for finger-prick monitoring. Having access to this data is invaluable. It allows the individual and their health care team to see vital patterns and trends in their glucose levels. This allows people to monitor and better understand how factors such as food and drink, physical activity, medication and stress influence glucose levels.

Unfortunately, these innovative and helpful continuous glucose monitoring sensors are not reaching those in most need. Currently not available to people with Type 2 diabetes via the NDSS, they are valued at $92 each and expire after 14-days. People may require multiple sensors over a period of time while working towards their self-management goals

For many people living in the Kimberley, the cost of these valuable sensors is prohibitive.

We strongly believe continuing glucose monitoring sensors should be accessible to all with diabetes, and available through the NDSS.

If this situation were to be remedied, then potentially-preventable diabetes-related complications such as lower-limb amputations and hospitalisation or clinic presentations rates may be avoided.

These glucose-monitoring sensors show enormous potential in improving the health outcomes for people living in some of the most remote parts of Australia.

We are grateful for the incredible commitment of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, and in particular, would like to acknowledge the dedication and effective advocacy of Dr Tilak Dissanayake and Noel Halford both of whom were instrumental in working with Abbott in securing this generous donation.

If you would like to know more about this project, contact Executive Manager – Allied Health Robyn Powell on 9192 7888 or email reception@boabhealth.com.au

Diabetes Educator Tara with Neil, learning about the benefits and how to use the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring sensor.