May 2011

Diabetes: Future Directions health professionals symposium

DA–Vic, in partnership with Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, are again hosting this key educational event for diabetes nurse educators, dietitians and diabetes health professionals in 2011.

Key note speakers include:

• Dr Marion Barton
• Merril Bohn 
• Assoc Prof Michael D'Emden 
• Assoc Prof David Goodman 
• Assoc Prof Shane Hamblin 
• Kathy Howe 
• Dr Patrick Moore 
• Assoc Prof Jonathan Shaw

When: Friday 13 May 2011
Where: Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Register by: Friday 6 May 2011
More information: Click here to open the 2011 program (PDF 340kb)

Numbers are limited for registrations. To book a place please contact: Training Coordinator at training@bakeridi.edu.au or 03 8532 1844.

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Targeted mail out to NDSS registrants with history of GDM

During the opening weeks of March, almost 7,000 letters were mailed to women registered with the NDSS who had previously developed gestational diabetes (GDM), outlining their increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes along with the benefits of lifestyle modification in reducing this risk.

This mail out was prompted by the changes to the eligibility criteria of the Life! program, which now identifies GDM as a condition conferring automatic eligibility for the Life! program, independent of a person’s AUSDRISK score or age.

At the time of writing, this mail out has generated over 300 responses for further information. All respondents have been forwarded on to have a First Visit completed to determine overall eligibility and referral into the Life! program, whilst further responses continue to be received by the Central Referral team.

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Gentle exercises to use at the start of your sessions

With the release of the new participant workbook in October 2010, it was intended that all Life! course sessions begin with some gentle exercises for 5–10mins as a way of getting participants used to moving in a supportive environment.

Adele, Life! course facilitator based in Ocean Grove, has been handing out a leaflet to her participants containing the below exercises to use as warm-ups in her Life! group sessions for the past year. She has asked to share these with the facilitator community.

You may like to try these with your groups along with some music perhaps, or come up with your own! 

EXERCISES

HAVE FUN!!

Marching on the spot – high knees and swing arms x 20
Variation 1: Right hand to left knee, left hand to right knee, alternating x 20
Variation 2: Right hand to left ankle, left hand to right ankle, alternating x 20

Sideways step – to left with left leg, bring right leg across to left leg and reverse with right leg
Variation: Cross arms behind and in front of body alternately x 20

Squats – hands on hips, half squat up and down x 15

Tippy toes – up on to toes then back on to heels x 10

Hand reach – reach hands above head, return to shoulders, then out sideways to shoulder height – return hands to shoulders x 20

Arm swing – swing arms around to the left then the right, rotating the whole trunk including head x 10

Arm bend – bending and straightening elbows while stepping forward and backward x 20

To share your own exercises, please email Kate on KDelley@diabetesvic.org.au

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Running a successful session six

In last month’s Life!Style we provided some tips to increasing your session six retention rates.

This month, Kim Welch, Life! course facilitator in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne, who has run over 20 session sixes, gives her insight into what she feels makes for a successful session six:

• Try to get measurements out of the way early, especially if people are coming in at different times and in dribs and drabs, however if everyone comes in together, I tend to do this later.
• Have a round table discussion . Get everyone discussing what they have found beneficial and where they are at with their behaviour change. Each participant should try to discuss their experience of the program, what the most beneficial part of the program was for them and what they would find more useful in the program, how they went with their goals and did they find they focussed more on dietary change or increasing exercise and which was easiest? Other important topics that make for good discussion include barriers and enablers, support (or lack of) from family and friends, how they will stay on track and what they will do to manage if they get off track, how they will face challenges etc. Discussion of this sort will usually easily fill an hour.
• Go over any queries that participants may have however this depends on the nature of the group. For example, if they like recipes then offer more recipes or snack ideas.
• In session one of the group ask participants to write down what and why they want to do the Life! course and what they hope to achieve in three or four broad points. Revisit these ideas in session six to see how people have progressed in achieving those ideas. I find that most participants have achieved several points and they are often quite surprised!
• Ensure that participants know they can repeat or ‘top up’ on some sessions, especially if they are feeling insecure about maintenance or needing further assistance.
• Consider combining two groups for session six if numbers are small, to ensure good group discussion.

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Registration for next Heartmoves leader training in Melbourne closing 1 May 2011

As a Life! facilitator, attaining at least 30 minutes of daily moderate intensity physical activity is one of the behaviour changes your participants are encouraged to adopt. Many participants, however, struggle to meet this goal.

The April edition of Life!Style provided information about Heartmoves, a low–moderate intensity exercise program specifically designed to cater for people with lifestyle risk factors or existing stable chronic conditions, coordinated by the Heart Foundation in conjunction with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Establishing Heartmoves at your organisation may provide your Life! participants an easy opportunity to take part in some guided physical activity in the safe, known environment of their Life! group whilst also being a value-add for your organisation.

Details for the next Victorian Heartmoves leader training:
Date: 14–15 May 2011
Location: Thomastown Aquatic and Recreation Centre
Registration: Click here to register*

*Please note registrations generally close 2 weeks before the workshop dates to allow time for registrants to complete the distance learning module which takes approximately 14 hours, however if you are sure you will be able to complete these in less time, you may register one week prior to course commencement.

Additional Heartmoves leader training in Victoria will be held on:

• 27–28 August (Ballarat)
• 29–30 October (Melbourne)

For further information, please refer to the Heartmoves website

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MOU signed between DA–Vic and VACCHO

On 16 March 2011 Diabetes Australia – Vic and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) signed an MOU to help fight diabetes in Aboriginal communities.

The MOU was signed in the presence of the new Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell, at DA–Vic in Elizabeth Street. Amongst those present were DA–Vic CEO Greg Johnson, VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher and Victorian Aboriginal Health Service CEO Rod Jackson.

As a direct result of the Media Alert and Release sent out, 12 stories were generated; this was spread across the print media, broadcast and the internet. In addition our Koorie Liaison Officer also forwarded an article that appeared in Top News, a website based in the USA.

Apart from the signing of the MOU, articles also incorporated:

• health concerns in indigenous communities due to the disease rate (including diabetes) being 12 times higher than non-indigenous Australians
• that Aboriginal people have a much higher prevalence of developing diabetes 
• that Feltman (a collaboration between DA–Vic and VACCHO) is being used in indigenous communities to educate people about diabetes 
• that Bendigo District Aboriginal Co-op is seeking accreditation to become an NDSS sub-agency

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Reminder about the ‘Referral to Health Coaching’ tickbox in the facilitator database

The ‘Referral to Health Coaching’ tickbox is to be used only when a participant has opted to participate in Life! Telephone Health Coaching (THC) instead of a Life! group course.

We would therefore like to remind facilitators not to tick this box if the participant is attending your Life! group course. Your cooperation with this will assist us to manage participants in the database more effectively.

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Need to do some spring cleaning?

When you are cleaning out your cupboards, remember that our clothing collection crew will come to you to collect all of your pre-loved clothes and household items. All proceeds from the sale of items fund programs for people with diabetes.

You don't even need to be at home when they call!

Call 03 9923 8400 for collection of clothing & household items and visit our website for more information.

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19 Gwen Scott Grants offered to diabetes health professionals

This year's grant program received 30 applications to undertake professional development to assist people in their work in diabetes. The applicants came from a wide range of professions including fitness instructors, exercise physiologists, nurses, an endocrinology registrar and a dentist.

Diabetes Australia – Vic offered grants to 19 individuals for short courses, workshops and conference attendance both here and overseas. We look forward to hearing about the changes people have made to their work practices as a result of their participation in these activities.

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