GP partners Adelaide is offering a Lifestyle Modification Program called Reset your Life as a part of the Australian Government prevention of type 2 diabetes program.

The Reset your Life program aims to assist people aged 40 to 49 years that have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes to improve their lifestyle and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Patients need to have a ‘high risk’ of type 2 diabetes according to the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK) and be referred into the program by their GP.

Patients eligible for the program:    

• are aged 40-49 years or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 15-54 years;
• at ‘high risk’ of developing type 2 diabetes as determined by a score of 12 or higher on the AUSDRISK tool;
• have had existing diabetes excluded;
• have not previously attended a subsidised Lifestyle Modification Program under the prevention of type 2 diabetes program

The Reset your Life program has been developed by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. Patients referred to the program will attend six education sessions at GP partners Adelaide over a six month period facilitated by health professionals. It is a group program with no more than 15 participants in each group. A typical session will include education on health and lifestyle, assistance with developing realistic and achievable goals and making healthy lifestyle changes.

Participants will be encouraged to achieve certain goals including:

• Weight loss of at least 5% of body weight over 12 months, if overweight
• Healthy eating goals, including reduction in fat intake and increase in fibre intake
• Physical activity goals, including doing 210 minutes of physical activity per week, and including moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity.

Topics covered in each session include:
Session 1: pre-diabetes including the risk factors, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes                           
Session 2: healthy eating, glycaemic index, fibre and fats
Session 3: physical activity
Session 4: blood lipids and fats in food
Session 5: staying motivated and positive thinking
Session 6: stress management and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the future

The program is subsidised by the Australian Government and is offered free of charge by GP partners Adelaide.

To refer a patient the GP needs to complete a GP referral form to a Lifestyle Modification Program and fax to GP partners Adelaide on 82272220. Medical Director templates can also be downloaded for the AUSDRISK tool and GP referral to Reset Your Life at GP partners Adelaide.The referring GP will receive a letter of acceptance of their patient into the program and letter at the end of the program outlining the patient’s progress and maintenance strategies for ongoing care.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes: identification and management of high risk patients

An online Active Learning Module (ALM) is now available focusing on the prevention of type 2 diabetes through the identification and management of high-risk patients. It has been developed by experts from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, funded by the Australian Government through the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN).

The online interactive training program consists of three modules each of 2 hours duration. GPs can receive 40 QA&CPD points (category 1) for completing all three modules or can alternatively receive 4 points (category 2) for completing individual modules.

• Module 1 focuses on the importance of diabetes prevention, and the prevalence and epidemiology of type 2 diabetes. It also explores lifestyle risk factors, including the role of nutrition and physical activity, and the evidence base for prevention approaches.
• Module 2 addresses practice systems for patient identification, specifically the AUSDRISK screening tool. It also details information about Medicare items, Lifestyle Modification Programs and program eligibility, as well as relevant policy and funding issues.
• Module 3 details motivational interviewing techniques to assist with working with patients who are reluctant to engage in activities to improve their health.

For further information or to register for the online module visit http://t2dm.agpntraining.com.