Journals Information
Advances in Diabetes and Metabolism(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 3(2), pp. 11 - 15
DOI: 10.13189/adm.2015.030201
Reprint (PDF) (246Kb)
Glycaemic Control among Rural Health Consumers: A Retrospective Study of a Diabetes Center
Daniel R Terry 1,*, Kristen Glenister 2, John Kilmartin 1,3, Gloria Kilmartin 1,3, Rob Sands 3, Jeremy Fowler 3, Julian Wright 1
1 Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
2 Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Wangaratta, Australia
3 Goulburn Valley Health, Diabetes Center, Australia
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this paper is to highlight the successes of and challenges faced by a publically funded diabetes center in a regional area. Methods: Demographic and laboratory cross sectional data were collected from electronic patient records. Data from a patient's very first test undertaken when attending the hospital and the latest test undertaken at the Diabetes center were noted and included age, sex, residential postcode and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Results: A third of patients reached the therapeutic guideline of 'very good control' for HbA1c levels. Females had lower Hb1Ac levels, while males and those that lived further away from the diabetes center had higher levels of HbA1c. However, a significant improvement in glycaemic control among men and those who lived 'out of town' was noted, while the corresponding pattern for women was not evident. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there was an overall improvement in diabetes control among health consumers who attend the regional diabetes center, however, female patients residing in town showed a negligible change over time. At risk' patient groups may need further targeting for intensive intervention to achieve optimal diabetes control, even within the diabetes center.
KEYWORDS
Regional Hospital, HbA1c, Diabetes Control, Diversified Care, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Daniel R Terry , Kristen Glenister , John Kilmartin , Gloria Kilmartin , Rob Sands , Jeremy Fowler , Julian Wright , "Glycaemic Control among Rural Health Consumers: A Retrospective Study of a Diabetes Center," Advances in Diabetes and Metabolism(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 11 - 15, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/adm.2015.030201.
(b). APA Format:
Daniel R Terry , Kristen Glenister , John Kilmartin , Gloria Kilmartin , Rob Sands , Jeremy Fowler , Julian Wright (2015). Glycaemic Control among Rural Health Consumers: A Retrospective Study of a Diabetes Center. Advances in Diabetes and Metabolism(CEASE PUBLICATION), 3(2), 11 - 15. DOI: 10.13189/adm.2015.030201.