ALL YOUR LATEST MEMBERSHIP

By now most of you would have heard that Diabetes NSW & ACT members recently voted YES to becoming part of Diabetes Australia. So what does this actually mean? In simple terms, when you renew your membership through Diabetes NSW & ACT, you will become a member of Diabetes Australia.

Explained: Becoming a member of Diabetes Australia

The correspondence you receive will ask you to join Diabetes Australia. You may have already received an email or flyer inviting you to do this. For this year, the invitation to join Diabetes Australia replaces the usual notice which asked you to renew your membership of Diabetes NSW & ACT. That’s all you need to do. In accepting the invitation to join Diabetes Australia, you are becoming part of a larger, stronger organisation focused on the things that matter to you: • Advocating to all levels of government on issues important to people living with diabetes • Donating to and supporting diabetes research • Being part of a supportive community, connected to others living with diabetes • Having access to local events and the latest information and advice to help you better self- manage your diabetes and live well

Becoming part of Diabetes Australia will not happen overnight and there will be many small steps along the way. Several members have already contacted us with questions about the journey and we will try to answer some of those here.

IF I AM JOINING DIABETES AUSTRALIA, WHY AM I STILL RECEIVING COMMUNICATION FROM DIABETES NSW & ACT? The day to day administration for you to join Diabetes Australia is being managed by the team here at Diabetes NSW & ACT. Our early correspondence with you will feature both the logo of Diabetes NSW & ACT and Diabetes Australia – because it is so new, we thought this might help. This dual branding is simply part of the transition process as we work to come together. Hopefully, later in the year, we will have managed to bring everything together under the single name Diabetes Australia. We are sure you will understand it takes time.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY MEMBERSHIP; WHO DO I CONTACT? Because the Diabetes NSW & ACT team is supporting our members moving across to Diabetes Australia membership, any questions can be answered by them. You can contact the membership team at membership@diabetesnsw.com.au or just call 1300 342 238.

I AM A LIFE MEMBER, OR HAVE PAID FOR MEMBERSHIP INTO THE FUTURE, WHY DO I NEED TO RETURN A FORM? As a Life member or a member who has pre-paid your membership for an extended period of time, we simply need your permission to move your record of membership to the Diabetes Australia database. When you give this permission, we will move your personal details to Diabetes Australia who will then continue to provide you with the benefits you enjoyed as a member of Diabetes NSW & ACT. We are required to get your permission to do this by law, so thanks for your understanding. By returning the form we sent you, you give us permission to keep your member benefits flowing. Your information will be handled in accordance with Diabetes Australia’s privacy policy. For a copy of this, please visit diabetesaustralia.com. au/about-this-site/#privacy

WILL I STILL HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AND RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFITS? Absolutely yes. When you become a member of Diabetes Australia, you will continue to have the same rights and receive the same benefits as you did as a member of Diabetes NSW & ACT. This means you have a right to access the financial performance of the company and retain the right to vote at meetings of the members.

As a member, you will still receive the same benefits:  Circle magazine will be delivered to your address quarterly  Part of your membership fee will support diabetes research  You will have access to online and face to face events and activities  We will advocate at all levels of

Government for people living with diabetes  You will be part of a community of like-minded people supporting each other to better self-manage your diabetes. HOW DO I ACCESS MY MEMBER BENEFITS? There are many ways to make the most of your membership.

Live Your Life Community Forum The online forum lets you connect with other members of the Live Your Life Community to ask questions and share tips and personal stories about self-managing diabetes in a way which works for you. To sign on or login, visit community.diabetesnsw.com.au. It’s a great way to connect with others who know what you’re going through. Within the forum you can also find exclusive member resources such as past copies of Circle magazine and webinar recordings.

Health information and recipes Circle will continue to be delivered directly to your postal address each quarter. If we have your email address you will also receive a monthly newsletter ensuring you are kept up to date with what’s new in the world of diabetes in between issues.

Education and support events Our members receive complimentary access to exclusive webinars, videos and in person events. We’ll let you know about upcoming webinars and events via email, the member newsletter and Circle.

Expert advice If you’re looking for advice on healthy eating, exercise or managing your diabetes ask a question through the ‘Ask a Health Professional’ section on the Live Your Life Community Forum or call us on 1300 342 238 to speak with one of our qualified health professionals. If you are finding that self-managing your diabetes is causing some angst or distress, our free member service – Psychologist on Call – is available to you. Give us a call and talk to someone who can provide you some guidance and tips on how to manage when things can become a little too much.

Virtual catch ups

Connect with other members over Zoom and discuss topics that are relevant to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

• 10:00am, 13 July • 2:00pm, 16 August • 11:00am, 8 September

Please note that while the membership team will be in attendance there will be no health professionals at these meetings.

WEBINAR: Let’s talk about peripheral neuropathy 6:30pm, 20 July Do you experience pins and needles in your feet, legs or arms? Or burning, stabbing and shooting pains? Are the symptoms worse at night? Perhaps your balance or coordination is deteriorating? All these symptoms could be signs of peripheral neuropathy. Learn more about the latest in diagnosis and treatment options for diabetic peripheral neuropathy with Dr Lea Sorensen. Brought to you by Nevro.

WEBINAR: Hearing health and diabetes 10:00am, 11 August Join us for a webinar hosted by Sheeja Govindan, Amplifon’s Audiologist and an Australian Retail Training Specialist, who will be speaking about hearing health and its connection to diabetes. Brought to you by Amplifon, Hearing Care professionals.

To register go to community. diabetesnsw. com.au/events/ calendar.

National Diabetes Week 2021

This year, National Diabetes Week will run from 11 – 17 July and the national campaign will focus on challenging diabetes-related stigma.

Research conducted by the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD) found that four out of five people living with diabetes have experienced stigma at some point in their lives.

This could come from feeling judged for eating certain foods, being treated differently or stared at when injecting insulin, having a hypo or even being blamed for developing diabetes or a health complication. Mentally this is a lot to deal with, and can impact someone’s self-care and physical and emotional health.

To help raise awareness of diabetesrelated stigma we will be working to change the conversation and challenge common beliefs people may hold about diabetes.

Our campaign will include metropolitan and regional media and social media messages, large billboards across Sydney and Canberra, lighting the Canberra Carillion blue, recognising important research as well as a range of awareness activities. n

Look out for updates on all our National Diabetes Week activities in our newsletters and on our website. If you have a story you’d like to share about a time where you felt you were being treated differently or blamed and shamed about your diabetes send us an email at comms@diabetesnsw.com.au.

Earlier diagnosis of diabetes saves lives

Isabella was just 11-years-old when she was rushed to hospital. She had undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and was in diabetic ketoacidosis.

If left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, can cause complications like swelling of the brain, severe dehydration, kidney failure, fluid in the lungs, and blindness. It can be fatal. “The poor health manifestations I’d been feeling for months, weren’t part of the ‘pre-teen phase’,” reflects Isabella.

“A few weeks prior, my mother had taken me to a GP. She asked if what I was experiencing could be diabetes. The doctor disagreed. Nevertheless, my mother still requested blood tests. “I didn’t feel the doctor put enough importance on my tests as he should have done. I wonder if I would have been in DKA if the GP was aware of diabetes symptoms.”

Diabetes NSW & ACT believes a healthcare team in each region across the state needs to be equipped with the right resources and information. We are advocating for upskilling in our health services and education campaigns in the community, to recognise the signs of type 1 diabetes.

“This chronic illness almost killed me before I'd realised my life goals, graduated school or had my first love - tell me this advocacy isn't urgent?” n

This is the difference you can make to the life of someone living with diabetes. Please turn to the back of the address sheet if you would like to give a tax-deductible gift today. Or visit diabetesnsw.com.au/donate to make a secure donation online.

Research prompts development of new support strategies

On pages 42 and 43 of this edition of Circle magazine, we introduce you to some of the findings of a ground-breaking piece of research which focused on how someone reacts emotionally and practically to a diagnosis of type 2 or gestational diabetes. The research was presented at the 2020 Australasian Diabetes Congress by the team from Diabetes NSW & ACT.

The 2018 research has provided a wonderful insight into the thoughts and actions of people newly diagnosed. By understanding the responses we are better able to develop support strategies and tools which can assist people in better selfmanaging their diabetes.

Research such as this is expensive to undertake, so a very big thank you goes to our wonderful donors who made this research possible. Many of our members also support our work through regular donations, so it is thank you to you also, for you have made this possible.

If aspects of the article resonate with you and you would like to speak with someone, remember our free Member service, Psychologist on Call. At times, managing diabetes can be overwhelming, especially with everything else going on in your life. If you ever feel this way, start a conversation by calling 1300 342 238 and asking for some support. Many members have already taken advantage of this free service and have found it very helpful. You might too. The Psychologist on Call service is another service supported by our members and donors. Thank you for your continued generosity. n INTRODUCING FLIN SAMPSON Flin Samson is a psychologist at Diabetes NSW & ACT. With a background in working with people who struggle with mood disorders and/or substance use problems, Flin is here to answer your calls.

“Living with diabetes can be difficult. There are so many factors to consider and it can be stressful knowing what’s best, but you shouldn’t need to deal with it alone,” says Flin. “I am here to offer support and help you navigate your sense of overwhelm, as well as work with you to gain some clarity on how best to proceed and tackle your difficulties.

“Examples of issues that people call in about are feeling discouraged, struggling with loneliness, worry about their future living with diabetes, and experiencing guilt or anxiety when getting off track with their diabetes management.

“Looking after your emotional health is as important as looking after your physical health, as stress and feelings of anxiety and depression can have a considerable impact on your diabetes and your ability to look after it.”

Researchers secure funding

Diabetes NSW & ACT and the Diabetes Australia Research Program are pleased to advise the following research projects have been successful in winning funding for 2021.

Associate Professor Ross Laybutt | Garvan Institute of Medical Research XBP1 maintains ß-cell identity by repressing an a-cell program Dr Nicola Lee | Garvan Institute of Medical Research Central leptin signalling through NPY neurons regulates glucose homeostasis Associate Professor Carsten SchmitzPeiffer | Garvan Institute of Medical Research Proof-of-Principle: Inhibitors of protein kinase c epsilon as dual action agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes Dr Lei Zhang | Garvan Institute of Medical Research Brainstem circuitries as intervention points for type 2 diabetes treatment Dr Chunling Huang | Kolling Institute of Medical Research Targeting Kv1.3 as a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic kidney disease Dr Sue Mei Lau | Prince of Wales Hospital Development of an evidence-based model of cost-effective diabetes inpatient care using a diabetes patient finding tool (the Diabetes Dashboard). Professor Kim Donaghue | The Children’s Hospital at Westmead The CANDID Study: Improving outcomes of childhood type 1 diabetes Professor Nick Di Girolamo | University of New South Wales A novel treatment for type I diabetes that regenerates sensory nerves: using the eye as a model

Associate Professor Kyle Hoehn | University of New South Wales Targeting caloric efficiency to treat obesityrelated diabetes in Db/Db mice Associate Professor Isabelle Jalbert | University of New South Wales IDEA: Co-designing and feasibility testing of an evidence-based and theory-informed intervention to improve appropriateness of diabetic eye care in Australia

Dr Ki Wook Kim | University of New South Wales Characterising the population of respiratory viruses that promote the development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes using virome capture sequencing

Professor Nigel Turner | University of New South Wales Pharmacological targeting of the sphingolipid metabolism to treat metabolic disease

Dr Kedar Ghimire | University of Sydney A novel strategy to promote insulin secretion and improve treatment for diabetes mellitus

Professor David James | University of Sydney Molecular dissection of a human lipodystrophy mutation

Dr Praveesuda Michael | University of Sydney 3D Perfusion Bioreactor: A novel approach to study synthetic vascular graft endothelialisation in diabetes

Dr Reena Singh | University of Sydney To identify the effect of basement membrane proteins on the global gene expression pattern of human stem cell derived-beta (SCß) cells and dissect the underlying mechanism of enhanced function

Professor Wah Cheung | Westmead Hospital The role of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in the development of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy