newsletter

Providing Complete Diabetes Care

May 2016

IN THIS ISSUE:

WELCOME to our first Hunter Diabetes Centre Newsletter! This newsletter will keep you up to date on what’s been happening here at the Centre. Learn about our clinical trials, our events, the services we can offer, and much more.

The Hunter Diabetes Centre is a new subdivision of The AIM Centre. The team at HDC, headed by Endocrinologist Dr Claire Morbey, are dedicated to the prevention, detection and management of diabetes.

Based in Merewether, Hunter Diabetes Centre provides access to leading specialists in Endocrinology, Dietetics, Diabetes Education, Clinical Trials and Psychology all at one convenient location. This all-encompassing approach makes Hunter Diabetes Centre a one-stop-shop in terms of diabetes care.

Hunter Diabetes Centre - Providing Complete Diabetes Care

Level 1, 41 Llewellyn St Merewether NSW 2291p: (02) 4963 2323 | f: (02) 4963 2303www.hunterdiabetescentre.com.au

Hunter Diabetes CentreProviding Complete Diabetes Care

Meet the Team

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Danii Foundation Jelly Bean Cruise 2016

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Tips for Type 1s

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Clinical TrialInformation Sessions

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Upcoming Events ‘Dear Body’

Mindfulness Workshop

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Our new website

EndocrinologyDr Claire Morbey, originally from London, completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of Leeds. She completed her endocrinology training at the John Hunter Hospital and Royal Darwin Hospital and started in private practice in 2008. Dr Morbey has admitting rights to Lingard, Lake Macquarie Private and Newcastle Private Hospital, and her areas of interest are T1DM and insulin pump therapy.

Diabetes EducationAnnette Parkes-Considine became a Registered Nurse through UNE, then completed her studies in Diabetes Management and Education. Annette has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for over 25 years. She enjoys providing support and education in an understanding environment for everyone who lives with diabetes, including a patient’s family.

Clinical TrialsLouretta Dwyer had a background in nursing when she entered into Clinical Research. Beginning as a study nurse, Louretta then moved on to become the Clinical Research Co-Ordinator at Hunter Diabetes Centre. She enjoys facilitating research into improved therapies for patients, and is encouraged and impressed by the many study participants who volunteer to help.

Nutrition/DieteticsMelba Mensch has completed her Bachelor of Science, Dietetic Internship and her Masters of Public Health Nutrition, all in USA. Melba is both an APD and a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE), and she has a special interest in Medical Nutritional Management of individuals on intensive insulin therapy.

Mel Vassallo* has obtained her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons), Graduate Certificate in Health Management and Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Management. She too is an APD and CDE, and has a passion for assisting clients in making realistic and lasting healthy lifestyle changes. *Mel is on leave until Nov 2016

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Meet the HDC Team

I understand that families and individuals can feel very isolated when living with diabetes, so not only did the Jelly Bean Cruise bring people together for education in a fun, relaxed, non-threatening environment but it helped people network, make friends and reassure each other that whatever it is they are experiencing, they are not alone in their journey.

Annette, Diabetes Educator, talking to

teenagers about living with Type 1.*

The Jelly Bean Cruise is an annual event and will be taking place next in September 2017. We can never give up hope for a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, but in the mean time we can use technologies available to help manage it and stay safe from the dangers of low blood glucose levels. *Image courtesy of Danii Foundation

Danii Foundation Jelly Bean Cruise 2016

Annette Parkes-Considine

THE Danii Foundation was started by Donna and Brian Meads Barlow in 2012 following the death of their beloved daughter. Daniella Meads Barlow had lived with Type 1 diabetes since the age of five and died in her sleep as a result of nocturnal hypoglycaemia or night time low blood glucose level.

As technologies to help manage diabetes in the 21st century develop, it is the foundation’s mission is to “make affordable, life-saving alert technology a reality for people living with type one diabetes, to educate the wider public and advocate for the type one community”, thereby protecting and keeping everyone safe from potentially fatal low blood glucose levels.

So along with an Adult Endocrinologist, a Paediatric Endocrinologist, a Dietitian, a Psychologist and another Credentialled Diabetes Educator we boarded P&O Pacific Eden for a 4 night cruise to Morton Island. Also on board were adults with Type 1, children with Type 1, their families and the crew from the Danii Foundation, 104 of us in total.

As a Credentialled Diabetes Educator, a Type 1 diabetes patient and a passionate advocate for good care for everyone living with diabetes, I jumped at the chance to take part in the 2015 Jelly Bean Cruise organised by the Danii Foundation.

On board our team of health professionals ran workshops and gave talks providing good, reliable education on the best ways to help manage Type 1 diabetes, introduce new technologies and give hope that people with diabetes can live a long and healthy life with this condition.

PHOTO

Tips for Type 1s

Change your finger sticker daily

Only use the same needle once

Change your insulin as often as your cannula set

Be aware of hypos on hot, humid days - you are

at higher risk

Use insulin at room temperature - works

better, stings less

Dispose of used sharps safely

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Take a look at your medicine cabinet – everything you see is only available because of clinical trials. Thousands of people from across the globe volunteer their time to participate in various clinical trials, actively testing various medicines and therapies. These volunteers can proudly say they are helping improve patient treatment and care on a global scale.

However many people may not know how a clinical trial works, or where to go to get involved. To shed some light on clinical trials, Hunter Diabetes Centre held two free Information Session in February at their clinic in Merewether. Hunter Diabetes Centre has a proactive research team dedicated to investigating new medicines and therapies through clinical trials. The team is headed by Endocrinologist Dr Claire Morbey, whose passion for clinical research fuelled both an informative and captivating presentation.

The team are currently running a clinical trial focusing on cardiovascular events in seniors with Type 2 Diabetes. Dr Morbey discussed the alarming prevalence

of Type 2 Diabetes, with 1 in 20 people diagnosed in the Hunter. Unfortunately, heart related deaths are quite common.“Of those people who have Type 2 Diabetes, 50% are likely to die of a cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke,” said Dr Morbey.

Hunter Diabetes Centre’s current trial, referred to as ‘THEMIS’, is testing an investigational drug that will hopefully lower this statistic. As an endocrinologist, or a ‘diabetologist’, the outcome of this study is important to Dr Morbey and the way she practises diabetes care.

“I hope I will have a clear, black and white answer,” she says.“And that is, will this help my patient?”

Clinical Trial Information Sessions

Dr Morbey explained that Hunter Diabetes Centre is an ideal location for a clinical trial, because the patient has free access to multiple diabetes experts. These include a Diabetes Educator, Dietitians, Psychologist, and the Clinical Research team. Louretta Dwyer, Clinical Trials Co-Ordinator, also spoke at the Information Session, elaborating on the significant role of volunteers.

“You are like gold to us,” she said.

She too expressed her focus on being proactive about clinical research, saying she is ‘not happy just to sit and wait’.

Those who attended the information session were able to ask Dr Morbey and Louretta (cont. p5)

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anything they wanted to know, with some participants sharing their own experiences with other clinical trials.

“The trial changed my mindset over time and over my life,” one gentleman said.“And because of this change, I am now no longer on insulin.”

Another gentleman spoke of the reward he felt on a wider scale.“I liked knowing I was doing something towards the future. You’re assuring humanity and the future”, he said.

The sessions gave potential volunteers the opportunity to settle any uncertainties they had about clinical trials.

By the same token, the Hunter Diabetes Centre team were able to understand how patients viewed

the realm of medical research, and clarify any commonly held misunderstandings.

If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, or think you fit the eligibility for the THEMIS trial (over 50, Type 2 Diabetes, never had heart attack or stroke), call the research team on 4963 2323 (take option 1).

by Gabrielle King

Hunter Diabetes Centre have now started recruiting for a new trial called ‘ODYSSEY’. You may be eligible if you:

are over 18 have Type 2 Diabeteshave high cholesterol

If you meet this criteria and are interested, please

contact our research team.

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‘Dear Body’ workshopThis June, Hunter Diabetes Centre will be hosting the ‘Dear Body’ workshop.

Run by mindfulness expert Charlotte Tharaup-Owen from The Mindfulness Clinic, the research-based program focuses on our relationship with our mind, body and food.

‘Dear Body’ aims to help anyone who feels confused, overwhelmed or helpless about their eating habits, or anyone who would just like to reduce their stress, and increase their experience of inner peace.

‘Dear Body’ is a five session workshop to be held at Hunter Diabetes Centre in Merewether.

The five sessions will cost $495 total per person, and will be held on the following dates in June:

• Tuesday 7th | 7-9pm• Saturday 11th | 9am-1pm• Tuesday 14th | 7-9pm• Saturday 18th | 9am-1pm• Tuesday 21st | 7-9pm

To book your spot in the Dear Body program, visit the Events page on our website today.

UpcomingEvents

‘Dear Body’ Mindfulness Workshop

June 7th - 21st

National Diabetes WeekJuly 10-16th

Advanced Pump NightJuly 26th @ 6.30pm

Keep up to date on our upcoming events by

visiting the Events page on our website.

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Want to keep up to date with our

Events and Clinical Trials?

or visit our website

www.hunterdiabetescentre.com.au

Introducing www.HunterDiabetesCentre.com.au

Here at Hunter Diabetes Centre we are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website.

HunterDiabetesCentre.com.au is now the place to go to keep up to date with all that is happening within our centre.

Learn more about the team and the services we offer, and find answers to frequently asked questions. You can also check out our current clinical trials, and stay updated on our latest news and upcoming events.

This website will only include the team of diabetes experts and specialists that currently work under ‘The AIM Centre’ banner.

While The AIM Centre and its website still exists, introducingHunter Diabetes Centre and HunterDiabetesCentre.com.au will help clarify what services our specialist team can offer. It will also mean seeking the appropriate diabetes care at our centre will be a easier and more efficient process for the patient and GP alike.

Learn about our team and much more at HunterDiabetesCentre.com.au

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