18/08/05
Diabetes patients in Western Australia will have access to a state-of-the-art resource and care centre, thanks to a $1.3million grant from the State Government.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said he was pleased the Lotterywest grant to Diabetes Australia (WA) would allow the organisation to establish a new centre to help people with Type One and Type Two diabetes.
“Between 4,000 and 6,000 people in WA, mostly children and young adults, suffer from Type One diabetes and need insulin injections to survive,” Mr McGinty said.
“Type Two diabetes, which is caused by a combination of inheritance and lifestyle, affects almost 150,000 Western Australians who are mostly over the age of 40.
“These are alarming statistics, particularly when you consider the long-term complications of the disease such as heart attack, stroke, vascular disease, kidney failure and blindness.”
The new centre will replace Diabetes Australia WA’s existing East Perth office and will offer new services for diabetes patients, including a podiatrist, psychologist, optometrist, resource library and Internet access.
The grant will also allow the organisation to expand its telephone support service to after-hours and to boost staffing numbers.
"The new centre will offer valuable support to diabetes patients and will educate people at risk of Type Two diabetes to ensure they do not develop the disease,” Mr McGinty said.
In 2004-05, the State Government gave more than $460,000 to Diabetes Australia WA for its telephone advice service, free needles and syringes for injecting diabetics and to develop guidelines for the management of pre-diabetes.
The new centre is expected to open in 2006.
Minister's office: 9220 5000
