Diabetes Care in Point Cook
Diabetes affects how your body handles glucose, the sugar in your blood. Keeping it well managed lowers the chance of problems with your heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and feet, and a GP can support you with education, dietary advice and lifestyle changes.
The main forms of diabetes
Type 2 is by far the most common. The body does not respond properly to insulin or does not make enough of it, and levels creep up slowly, so many people feel fine when they are diagnosed. Family history, age, weight and inactivity all play a part, and some cultural backgrounds carry a higher risk.
Type 1 develops when the immune system destroys the cells that make insulin, so insulin injections or a pump are needed for life. It often starts in childhood or early adulthood, and a specialist diabetes team is usually involved.
Gestational diabetes appears during pregnancy and generally resolves after birth. Having had it raises the likelihood of type 2 later on, so ongoing testing in the years afterwards is recommended.
Prediabetes means glucose readings sit above the normal range without reaching the level for diagnosis. Losing a little weight, moving more and changing what you eat can reduce the chance of it progressing.
Symptoms that call for a blood test
Plenty of people with type 2 have no warning signs at all. Make an appointment with a GP if you notice any of the following:
- Constant thirst or needing to pass urine more often
- Tiredness that rest does not fix
- Blurred vision
- Thrush, cuts or skin infections that recur or are slow to heal
- Weight loss you cannot explain
Diabetes care at the clinic
At Juniper Avenue Medical Centre, diabetes care includes education about the condition, dietary advice and help with lifestyle changes. HbA1c and urine samples can be taken without a separate trip, because Dorevitch Pathology collects on site.
Your GP can also refer you to a dietitian, credentialled diabetes educator, podiatrist, optometrist or endocrinologist. Long-term conditions like this are what a GP care plan is designed for, and a plan may give you access to some Medicare-subsidised allied health visits.
Routine checks recommended in Australia
National diabetes guidelines set out a regular schedule of checks. Keeping a note of when each one was last done makes it easy to see what is due:
- HbA1c, a blood test reflecting your average glucose over the past two to three months, commonly every three to six months
- Blood pressure at regular reviews
- Cholesterol and kidney function, at least yearly
- An eye examination at diagnosis, then at least every two years
- A foot assessment by a health professional at least once a year
Day to day with diabetes
Look at your feet each day for cuts, blisters, redness or colour changes, as reduced feeling can hide an injury. Kidney monitoring is explained further on the kidney disease support page.
If you use insulin or certain tablets, learn the signs of low glucose, such as shakiness, sweating, hunger or confusion, and carry fast-acting sugar. Illness can push readings up or down, so ask for a written sick-day plan.
Registering with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) gives access to subsidised supplies and education programs. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for people with diabetes.
Living with a long-term condition can wear you down. If you feel low or overwhelmed, raise it at your next visit, because how you are coping matters as much as the numbers.
Fees and bulk billing
GP care plans are bulk billed with all our doctors. Other consultations may have an out-of-pocket fee, and each practitioner sets their own fees. See our fees page for details.