Detection and Screening
Detection and Screening
WSD has been monitoring diabetes rates for some time in the community, using both hospital and GP data.
WSD’s primary method of detection is through HbA1c tests in the Emergency Departments (ED) of Blacktown and Mt Druitt hospitals, as well as a smaller but similar program in Westmead Hospital.
People who attend ED at Blacktown and who have blood taken for any reason are also given a HbA1c test, which looks at average blood sugars over the last 3 months.
Routine diabetes detection (HbA1c) in BMDH Emergency Departments reached 220,000 tests (October 2022) since the start of this initiative in June 2016 with an average of between 16-18% of people attending ED testing positive for diabetes in that time.
This includes a large proportion of people with newly-diagnosed diabetes. This program also assists with our in-hospital diabetes management efforts.
This year, WSD will run a diabetes detection program at Workers Blacktown as part of Western Sydney Changing Diabetes partnership with WLG and Novo Nordisk. Here, members and guests will have their HbA1c measured to indicate whether they are either at risk of or already have diabetes.
Diabetes Detection and Management Strategy (DMMS)
In April, DDMS rolled out HbA1c result notifications via SMS. The SMS has the same link to DDMS landing page on the WSD website directing patients to NDSS fact sheets on pre-diabetes and diabetes.
It is hoped this information will help raise awareness of diabetes and the risk factors involved in developing diabetes or worsening complications It could also trigger more people to seek their GP for help earlier.
From July 2021 to July 2022 there has been 38,567 HbA1c tests conducted through BMDH, with now a total of more than 220,000 tests performed since the project began.
HbA1c testing initiative at Westmead Hospital
HbA1c testing initiative at Westmead Hospital Routine HbA1c Testing Initiative began in November 2017.
As part of the routine clinical assessment, measurement of HbA1c is automatically performed for all patients with a random blood glucose level of ≥10 mmol/L, who present to the ED. The aim of this initiative is to opportunistically diagnose patients who are unaware that they have diabetes, as well as to improve care and treatment for those whose glycaemic control is above the desired target.
Inpatient pre-diabetes GoShare bundle project
In the beginning of 2021, a pilot study utilising digital educational information to improve the lifestyle factors of individuals with pre-diabetes, was planned. The purpose of the study is to assess if the short-term provision of electronic educational resources promoting a healthy lifestyle in individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (pre-diabetes) will result in improved Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and SLIQ (Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire) score.It is widely known that the duration of hyperglycaemia is a predictor of adverse outcomes.
The prevalence of pre-diabetes is increasing worldwide and by 2030, there could be more than 470 million people with pre-diabetes.
This highlights the importance of diabetes prevention as a public health priority and why it is crucial to reduce the diabetes burden. In western Sydney, more than half the adult population is overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. At least a third of people with diabetes are undiagnosed.
If individuals with pre-diabetes were to lose 2kg of weight, on average 30% fewer of them will progress to type 2 diabetes.
Head to our Primary Prevention section to learn more about ways you can prevent developing type 2 diabetes.
