Driving and your health

The national transport Commission and Austroads have recently revised national medical standards for driver licensing. Click here for a fact sheet for details.

Cabin pressure during take-off and landing can cause unintended insulin delivery from insulin pumps

"Researchers at John Hunter Children's Hospital in Newcastle, Australia investigated insulin pumps used by patients with type 1 diabetes to deliver insulin. The study, published in the journal 'Diabetes Care', found that when ten insulin pumps were flown on a commercial flight, they were affected by air pressure changes. Air pressure decreases during takeoff caused the pumps to deliver extra insulin, and air pressure increases during descent caused some insulin to be sucked back into the pumps, resulting in an insufficient amount of insulin being dispensed. The air pressure causes bubbles to form and expands existing bubbles, affecting the amount of insulin being given. Researchers advise people with diabetes to be aware of the effects of pressure changes, and possibly disconnect the pump before takeoff and landing."

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More Australians using insulin to manage diabetes

Over 220,000 Australians began using insulin to treat diabetes between 2000 and 2009, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The new web-based report, Incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia, 2000–2009, shows that 77% of these people had Type 2 diabetes, 12% had gestational diabetes and 10% had Type 1 diabetes. The remaining 1% had other types of diabetes.

Online report: Incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia 2000–2009

Education Sessions you might be interested in

Heart Health & Diabetes

Dr Elaine Pretorius
Elaine is the Medical Head of Diabetes and Endocrinology services, Endocrinologist and General Physician at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Elaine will explore the relationship between diabetes and heart disease including its prevention and management.

Kerryn Eades
Accredited Practising Dietitian Kerryn will explain the important aspects of healthy eating that can help minimise your risk of heart disease.

Diabetes: the silent pandemic and its impact on Australia

A report recently released by Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, entitled 'Diabetes: the silent pandemic and its impact on Australia', has prompted some of Australia's leading research and consumer advocacy groups to demand a renewed focus from the federal government on the health issue.

'What is critical now is for us to take urgent responsibility and act firmly and fast to contain the significant burden our younger generations and children are set to endure,' according to Associate Professor Shaw the reports lead author.

'The battle against diabetes requires concerted efforts on a number of fronts - strategies to slow down the rapidly rising number of those developing the disease and ensuring those living with diabetes are able to manage this insidious condition effectively.

'We must also do everything we can to fully understand diabetes via research.'

The report says 275 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes every day, which can result in visual impairment, kidney disease or limb amputation.

Report released March 14 2012. To view the report click here.