By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
A HIGH-TECH new diabetes monitor at Lilydale’s Inspiro Community Health Service is expected to keep patients out of hospital and take pressure off their carers.
Lilydale health service Inspiro can now offer patients living with diabetes the latest in medical technology through the use of a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM.
The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation funded the purchase of the Daxcom G4 Platinum, a device that allows diabetes patients at the clinic to better understand the link between behaviour and glucose activity.
Kalorama residents Stan and Martin Simek will see first-hand the benefits of the machine.
Stan lives with diabetes and is a patient of the clinic, and son Martin acts as his carer – a role that involves regularly testing his blood sugar levels and administering medication daily.
Stan believes the real-time feedback device will be crucial in identifying patterns in his father’s blood sugar levels throughout the day and night to prevent a hypoglycaemic episode, or ‘hypo’.
“I am looking forward to using the Dexcom G4 because it will help take pressure off me as his carer and help keep my father out of hospital,” Mr Simek said.
Inspiro Diabetes educator Ruth Figes thanked the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation for the donation which will improve the lives of those with diabetes.
“This device enables those living with diabetes to understand when is the most effective time for them to exercise, when exercise can be detrimental to their health, when they need to eat or avoid certain foods,” Ms Figes explained.
“What makes the Dexcom G4 Platinum unique is the real-time feedback it provides users.”
The benefits of real-time feedback include a more accurate representation of clients’ glucose patterns and the device is able to generate computer reports to identify glycaemic trends.
This will mean a faster response when blood sugar levels fall too low which Ms Figes said was essential in treating people living with diabetes.
Martin Simek agreed, saying the new system will help to prevent his father’s symptoms.
“There are very serious variations to my father’s test readings and this is very worrying,” Mr Simek said.
“My father has experienced a number of hypos with the latest incident requiring two weeks of hospitalisation.”
The prevalence of diabetes in the Shire of Yarra Ranges is on the rise, growing approximately 180 per cent over the past 10 years and by 210 per cent in hot spots such as Lilydale.
Ms Figes pointed out the link between the rates of diabetes death and disadvantage.
“By empowering our diabetic clients to manage their chronic illness, they not only become more confident and in control of their health and lifestyle but they can also become less dependent on medication and reduce or eliminate their need for hospitalisation,” she said.
