PracticeUpdate: Conference Series | ADC 2018

There are currently 21 centers around Australia where clinicians can refer their patients or attend education sessions themselves. “It’s time to restore balance about risks. Yes, complications are serious but we need to share the good news with our patients that all reductions in HbA1c can reduce the risk of long-term complications. “They also need to be aware that hypo- glycemia is not inevitable – it’s not a necessary evil,” Dr. Speight said.

embarrassed to treat their diabetes in public. Some even had an absolute focus on avoiding hyperglycemia. “This showed us the determination of these patients in wanting to keep their glucose levels in the lower range because people were telling them that they needed to. “We’ve been shouting loud and clear about people’s risk of long-term compli- cations when their glucose levels are high. But what we’ve not been saying very well to our patients is what can be done to manage their risk of hypoglycemia. “This really is the elephant in the room, and we need to be talking more about it,” Dr. Speight said. In 2017, the National Diabetes Services Scheme released the handbook Diabetes and Emotional Health: A Handbook for Health Professionals Supporting Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes to help support and encourage healthcare pro- fessionals to ask patients about their actual experiences of hypoglycemia dur- ing consultations. Structured education can improve patients’ glycemic control and hypoglycemia risk Dr. Speight also explained that patients with T1D can benefit from a structured education program, such as DAFNE in the UK and OzDAFNE in Australia.

DAFNE is a 5-day outpatient group edu- cation program that provides participants with the tools needed to self-manage their insulin doses. Studies of OzDAFNE have found that rates of severe hypoglycemia are reduced by about half in those who have completed the program. “Patients who are having problems with hypoglycemia can clearly ben- efit from attending a DAFNE course,” Dr. Speight said.

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© Australian Diabetes Society

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ADC 2018 • PRACTICEUPDATE CONFERENCE SERIES