Working Together to Tackle Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes SA is proud to partner with Preventive Health SA to develop and implement an evidence-based initiative aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of type 2 diabetes among priority populations in South Australia.
People from many Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are two or more times more likely to develop chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. High-risk South Australian communities, particularly those that are home to Asian, Southern-European, Middle Eastern, African, Pacific Islander, and Aboriginal populations, face disparities in accessing health care, including diabetes education, screening, and management, leading to poor health outcomes. Barriers such as language, cultural differences, limited health literacy, community acceptance, generational trauma and stigma can contribute to these disparities.
Supported by a three-year grant from Preventive Health SA, Diabetes SA will work collaboratively with stakeholders from CALD and Aboriginal communities to address barriers that affect timely and quality healthcare for high-risk populations. The initiative’s goal is to raise awareness using culturally tailored and appropriate information and education on the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Increased risk awareness enables access to health checks and early detection of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It also provides people an opportunity for early intervention and access to information, resources, and support from health professionals (including referral pathways) to build skills around nutrition, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing; this can prevent or delay progression to more serious diabetes-related complications including heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss, amputation and mental health conditions.
This partnership between Diabetes SA and Preventive Health SA reflects our shared commitment to health equity and community-led solutions to improve the health outcomes of several of South Australia’s most vulnerable communities.
For more information about this initiative, please contact us at healthservices@diabetessa.com.au
