Our diabetic patients already know the extensive services we have offered here at this practice since 1996. At that time we started to offer a special program to our 46 diabetics that included  a comprehensive review twice a year

In 1997  Margaret Hollis, diabetes educator, commenced visiting the practice regularly and from 1998 she came just about once per week up to retiremement in 2007. She has been replaced by Janette Drain who is now a fully qualified Diabetes Educator.

This combination of simultaneous doctor/educator review became a catalyst for what is now a thorough program of diabetic care. This program offers an exhaustive analysis of the health of the diabetic at any moment and also documents the findings in a cumulative fashion giving far greater insight into the precise problem area. Our patients benefit further by having this analysis with them whenever they attend a medical or health facility

The single clear message we see as we monitor changes in a particular diabetic is that loss of control marches hand in hand with both weight gain and increasing waist measurement. On the contrary losing weight and sustaining a low fat diet corrects high cholesterol, triglycerides and lowers the HbA1c (the three month test of average sugar level). In turn, as this progresses, we actually manage to reduce drug treatment requirement

This guy certainly enjoys his barbecues - we'll have to have a little chat about that. 

We have a systematic program involving two complete assessments every calendar year. Each assessment involves review of history, causative factors, medical examination, appropriate blood tests, review by a diabetes educator and dietitian where necessary, and referral to an eye specialist at one of the assessments. As well we may involve a podiatrist.