Facts about Diabetes
- Diabetes is the world's fastest growing disease. It is the seventh major cause of death due to disease in Australia.
- The Federal Government includes diabetes as one of its national health priorities, with a cost to the nation exceeding 1.2 billion dollars per year.
- Every 10 minutes, someone somewhere in Australia is diagnosed with diabetes.
- It is estimated that over one million Australians have diabetes, half of whom are undiagnosed (type 2 diabetes).
- As this massive growth rate continues its steady climb, it is estimated that more than 1.7 million people will have diabetes by 2010.
Resources for General Practice
Diabetes Management in General Practice 2009/10
This is an essential guide providing a readable summary of current guidelines and recommendations from various sources on the management of type 2 diabetes in the general practice setting. You can download an electronic version, or contact Diabetes Australia on 1300 136 588 for a hard copy.
Best Practice guidelines for General Practice - Diabetes Australia website
Diabetes Australia provides diabetes related information for health professionals, including best practice guidelines and access to recent reports on prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes.
Conducting Nurse Led Diabetes Clinics
This document was compiled by the CWDGP to aid practice nurses in setting up and conducting a diabetes clinic. You can download the a copy of Conducting Nurse Led Diabetes Clinics Document
Annual Cycle of Care attracting a SIP Payment
The minimal level of routine assessment is:
- 6 monthly - BP, Ht/Wt/BMI, Foot Assessment
- 12 monthly - HbA1c, Lipids, Microalbuminurea, and review of smoking, diet, physical activity, self management education and medication.
- 24 monthly - Eye Assessment
NB. More frequent patient review will be required for those patient's with complications and/or other co-mobidities.
If your practice is accredited, a SIP payment is available each 12 months provided all components of the Annual Cycle of Care is completed and documented.
Simultainiously, a patient can be managed via a General Practice Management Plan (GPMP), Team Care Arrangement (TCA) and Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referral.
A flowchart has been developed to assist you understand the timeframes recommended by Medicare for the development and potential review of a GPMP and TCA, and how the patient review process can be linked with an Annual Cycle of Care and Medicare claim.
The Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK)
The Type 2 Diabetes Risk Evaluation (MBS Items 713) was released on 1 July 2008 as part of the 'COAG - reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes' initiative to address the significant growth in type 2 diabetes in Australia.
The type 2 risk evaluation is available to people aged 40 to 49 years (inclusive) who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. ‘High risk’ is determined following the patient’s completion of the Australian type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool.
Lifestyle Modification Programs
A key component of the Commonwealth Government's Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Program, is the ability for a GP to refer eligible patients to accredited, subsidised Lifestyle Modification Program (LMPs) to prevent, or delay, the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Patients who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes based on the AUSDRISK tool and who have had diabetes excluded, can be referred to LMPs under an item 713 (Type 2 diabetes risk review), item 717 (45-49 year old health check) or item 710 (Indigenous adult 15-54 year old health check).
To download a two page information booklet on the Lifestyle Modification Program, click here.
To download a General Practitioner Referral Form click here.