3 minute read
A Word From Us
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
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When you’re working in the health sector, it’s important to take the long view. As the pandemic has shown us, planning ahead can make a significant difference to health outcomes.
This is particularly true for diabetes. We know the sort of risk factors that make a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes more likely in the future, so it is important to act and plan now to reduce the risk of rates rocketing in the years ahead. Over the past few months Diabetes WA has been reflecting on our strategy and thinking about the specific groups who might require more focus and support in the future.
Nearly half a million West Australians (around one fifth) are currently at risk of or are living with diabetes and every day another 31 people are diagnosed with either type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. Diabetes WA strives to give a collective voice to these people and recognises that some at-risk groups have needs that are unique to their backgrounds and circumstances. This might include people living in regional and remote communities, people who are living with diabetes complications or people from diverse backgrounds. This issue of Diabetes Matters focuses on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups as we know that more than a third of Australians diagnosed with diabetes were born overseas. This puts them at a heightened risk of diabetes, compared to people born in Australia. You can read more about how diabetes impacts upon different communities in this issue’s main feature looking at diversity and diabetes. When looking at how diabetes affects different communities, it's important to acknowledge the risk to our First Nations peoples. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately affected by diabetes and its complications. Five years ago, Diabetes was the second highest cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in WA. The evidence shows us that diabetes tends to affect Aboriginal people earlier in life and more aggressively. More than half – 60% – of WA’s known cases of children with type 2 diabetes are Aboriginal. That statistic is all the more stark when you consider only 6.8% of the state’s children and young people are Aboriginal. Diabetes WA will continue to work hard with stakeholders to develop a strategy to address the burden of diabetes in Aboriginal Communities. Our new five year strategy, which will guide us from this financial year through to 2027, places our members at the centre of our services and programs and we will be actively seeking more opportunities to engage with and hear directly from you over the coming months. We will be asking you for your opinions and feedback around our services, membership offerings and other important initiatives as this feedback will help to shape our future. The last two years have been uniquely difficult for many West Australians. We’re proud that, despite the restrictions and lockdowns, we’ve been able to continue to provide a vital service to people across the state who are living with – or supporting people living with – diabetes. Even when face-to-face workshops haven’t been possible, we’ve been able to adapt and connect with those who need us through virtual sessions. And, of course, we’ve continued to offer our vital Telehealth service to those in regional areas. We’re looking forward to a big year ahead working with you, our members, and thinking about how we can best meet your needs. Thank you for your support. We hope we can continue to support you throughout the next financial year – and beyond!
