Emerald Hospital’s new Diabetes Clinic is a source of hope for patients with diabetes who now have access to care closer to home.
Ella Maguire, 15, was one of the first patients seen in the clinic, saving her and mum Alyce Keene from flying to Brisbane for her regular care.
Alyce said Ella had lived with diabetes since the age of eight months, and she was grateful for this service, provided by Credentialled Diabetes Educator Carolanne Boland and Dr Louise Russell.
“They’re amazing,” Alyce said, “It’s almost like having another family here, they know us so well.”
“It makes Ella’s management so much easier having them so close by.”
The clinic allows access to people with Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes with complex needs, women with gestational diabetes and paediatric patients with diabetes.
The first clinic was held in December, supporting 10 paediatric clients and three adults.
All were very happy to have a service in Emerald, saving them the time and expense of a long drive or flight.
Carolanne said the three adults seen at the first clinic were fitted with automated insulin pumps, which meant saying goodbye to at least four insulin injections every day.
“They were very grateful to have this new device, and one of those patients said the pump made her diabetes ‘easy’, which was something she never thought she’d get to say.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to provide this service to people with diabetes,” she said.
The clinic runs every second Monday and Tuesday, and referral is by a general practitioner or health professional.