The Aboriginal Diabetes Study
It's estimated that 1 in 3 Aboriginal people will develop diabetes.
Understanding why Aboriginal patients with diabetes are more likely to develop serious complications is key to developing a strategy to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal communities.
Complications of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can often lead to serious complications in patients. These complications are more prevalent in Aboriginal communities, and include:
- heart complications
- kidney failure
- blindness
- limb amputation
Why is it so important to identify which patients are at greater risk of these complications?
At present, when a patient is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes there is no way to predict if they are more likely to suffer the complications that can come with the disease. If this group of patients can be identified earlier, they can be given more tailored treatment strategies to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes complications.
Aboriginal Health research - with and for the community
The research priorities of our Aboriginal Health theme are set through consultation with Aboriginal communities. This means listening to the concerns of Aboriginal communities, and crafting research that will answer these issues. It also means communicating the results of our research to these communities in a meaningful way. Ensuring Aboriginal communities are empowered to participate in, and benefit from our research is key.
