The unique role of the primary health care nurse in improving patient care in type 2 diabetes – Certificate of Completion

With 280 Australians developing diabetes every day, diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia and a national health priority. According to Diabetes Australia, an estimated 1.7 million Australians are living with this progressive condition, and this number is expected to grow to more than 2.5 million within 20 years. Diabetes has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the Australian population. It is an underlying or associated cause of 10 per cent of all deaths in Australia, and costs the Australian community $14.6 billion annually. Current management guidelines state that undiagnosed and poorly managed type 2 diabetes (T2D) can lead to a range of complications, including stroke, coronary artery disease and blindness, making the early identification and optimal management of people with T2D critical.