Diabetes in Torres Strait Islanders: Challenges and opportunities for remote area nurses

Title
Diabetes in Torres Strait Islanders: Challenges and opportunities for remote area nurses
Publication Date
2013
Author(s)
Taylor, Sean Matthew
Usher, Kim
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
Email: kusher@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:kusher
McDermott, Robyn
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
eContent Management Pty Ltd
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.5172/conu.2013.46.1.46
UNE publication id
une:14575
Abstract
Torres Strait Islanders living in the Torres Strait region have the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Australia; more than three times the rate of other Australians. Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance are the main causes for these high rates of the disorder. Further, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders diagnosed with diabetes have poorer glycaemic control and much lower rates of insulin use than non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes alongside extremely high rates of renal failure and other comorbidities. Interventions have been instigated in order to overcome these issues. Previously a simple recall system managed by local health workers achieved significant improvements in diabetes care, reduced diabetes-related hospitalisations by 40% and led to the implementation of a chronic disease register and recall system throughout the Torres Strait region. Nurses, Indigenous health workers and other health professionals play important roles in ensuring these intervention continue.
Link
Citation
Contemporary Nurse, 46(1), p. 46-53
ISSN
1839-3535
1037-6178
Start page
46
End page
53

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