New initiative launched to help young people with diabetes
Southern Health’s Monash Medical Centre Clayton was the location for the launch of a new strategy initiated by Diabetes Australia this week which aims to engage children with diabetes and their parents to be better informed and connected to health services.Under the new strategy, birthday cards will be sent to all young people with diabetes from their twelfth to their twentieth birthdays and their parents will receive age appropriate transition information to assist with the move from children’s healthcare to adult care.
Speaking at the launch, Southern Health Paediatric Endocrinologist Dr Philip Bergman said those aged 16-25 often experience the most trying and difficult issues, often have poorer diabetes control than at any other time in their lives and are at higher risk of developing preventable complications including eye, kidney, heart disease and psychosocial problems.
“It is extremely important young people remain in the health system in order to get the best care possible. It’s really about educating not only adolescents but parents too,” Dr Bergman said.
Research from Diabetes Australia shows there are around 10,000 young Australians with type 1 diabetes in transition (age 15-25 years) moving between the children’s’ healthcare system and adult care with research showing many do not transition well.
Between 30-40 per cent of young people with type 1 diabetes are ‘lost’ from specialist care each year when transitioning to adult care and one third need additional mental health support.
Diabetes Australia Acting CEO Professor Greg Johnson said: “It is important to develop innovative and appropriate ways to engage young people and to show them why remaining in the healthcare system is essential to their good health.”