Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolic Disease

Diabetes is the leading burden of disease in Australia. The severity of the disease varies, adversely affecting those from poorer socio-economic backgrounds. Evidence suggests that the size of the problem has been underestimated by up to 50%.

Despite the widespread prevalence of diabetes, only half of those with the disease are receiving adequate treatment. And only half of these are getting treatment that will prevent further complications. Diabetes is a growing concern for the population and the impact it has on the health system.

Our Vision

To harness research, educational and clinical expertise across our partners to develop, trial – and where appropriate – implement new health interventions for diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Our Focus

This Clinical Theme has been set-up to address these concerns through the following:

Preventing and reducing diabetes and metabolic disease
Preventing diabetes and its long-term implications
Preventing and reducing its long-term complications
Reducing the impact of Type 1 diabetes and identifying other rare forms of the disease
Creating new, integrated, cost-effective ways of working across healthcare and the community.

Our overarching goal is to improve the health outcomes and lives of people with diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorders, taking a life course perspective, through our research.

Our Projects

Prevention Project

There is still a lot of work to be done in the area of diabetes and obesity prevention. While there are lifestyle programs that advise the population on healthy ways to avoid the disease, not enough is being done to prevent the disease. We are investing in prevention projects, particularly for the 16-25 year age group, and Aboriginal and CALD communities. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes is higher and the onset younger in these communities.

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Diabetes Contraception and Pre-Pregnancy Program (DCAPP)

In South Western Sydney, the rates of congenital malformations among women with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes are 11% in Campbelltown and 6.8% in Liverpool. These rates are alarming when compared with the national average of 2% and are the reason for the DCAPP program.

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Our Team

Our team includes leaders from across a wide spectrum of skill-sets, organisations and disciplines. They hail from universities, hospitals, local health districts, research and neuroscience institutes, technology companies, and multicultural centres.