Page 2469 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
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diabetes, increasing the prevalence for generations to come. However, it also presents the opportunity to target two generations at once to improve long-term outcomes for individual Canberrans and for the community as a whole.
There is no single answer to address diabetes in our community. No one action will work effectively on its own. Reducing the impact of diabetes requires a balance between prevention efforts, early identification of those at risk and treatment services to help people better manage their condition. Prevention actions are needed to slow and reverse the growth of risk factors such as obesity, and hence diabetes into the future, while effective treatment services are required for individuals and families in need now.
Prevention approaches aim to maintain the health of Canberrans through population and targeted actions preventing the development and progression of lifestyle risk factors. These approaches will reach the largest number of people and have the greatest overall population benefit.
The ACT is a leader in preventive health and continues to provide a range of programs that address the lifestyle factors that contribute to diabetes. The ACT Health Directorate continues to run a range of programs such as fresh tastes, “It’s your move” in schools or healthier choices Canberra, which is working with local businesses to make it easier for the community to find healthier food and drinks.
In addition, in June 2019 the government announced almost $1 million in grants focusing on the prevention of diabetes in the community. This included over $700,000 for Diabetes NSW & ACT for the healthy women, healthy mums, healthy families program.
The prevention of chronic conditions, including diabetes, will continue to be a key focus of the ACT Health Directorate and is core to the work currently being undertaken in developing the ACT’s preventive health plan. This plan will use an evidence-based approach in focusing on the key protective factors which influence the future health of Canberrans: healthy weight, healthy diet, active living, tobacco-free living. The plan is still being developed, but I look forward to providing further information to the Assembly in due course and ensuring that the ACT continues to lead in preventive health programs.
In addition to prevention, the early identification of Canberrans at high risk is also an important plank in the government’s approach to diabetes. Early identification allows for either the reversal of lifestyle risk factors or prevents and delays the development of diabetes. This includes appropriate screening for diabetes. Diabetes is much more prevalent in communities with a low socio-economic profile and certain ethnic groups, in particular the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
As I stated earlier, the ACT government, while committed to diabetes prevention, does not support mandating the testing of its public servants for diabetes. However, the ACT government, working through the ACT Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services, will commit to working closely with Diabetes NSW & ACT and other relevant organisations to promote diabetes prevention and testing information
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