This is a follow-up survey to assist us to better understand what support we can provide as we begin to emerge from this crisis. We know times have been really tough and we recognise that workloads, the type of work and way you work may have changed and we wish to understand how this will impact your practice moving forward. Thank you for your time, your responses will help us to support our members. To participate in the follow-up survey on COVID-19 and diabetes in Australia please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/adscovid2

Australian Clinical Guide for using telehealth for people with diabetes-related foot disease during the COVID-19 pandemic (14 May, 2020)

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians around the world are being asked to use telehealth consultations to replace face-to-face consultations. Yet, using telehealth to care for a person with diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) can be quite a challenge, as care typically requires multidisciplinary care, including counselling, physical assessment and physical therapy. Thus, not all face-to-face care can be replaced by telehealth. But some aspects of DFD care may be replaced as the primary benefit of telehealth allows access to health professional advice where mobility, location and COVID-19 restrictions are problematic. ADS and DFA have developed the following guide to help Australian clinicians who are considering using telehealth as an alternative service type to augment the care of their patients with DFD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide is designed to support clinicians to consider key DFD elements to determine the suitability, preparation, consultation and documentation needed to help ensure an effective telehealth consultation. This guide is focused on the DFD aspects of the telehealth consultation and should be used in conjunction with the ADS telehealth guide. Please download the PDF: 

Revised ADIPS/ADS/DA/ADEA Joint Statement on GDM Diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic (7 May, 2020)

The Australasian Diabetes In Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) together with the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), Diabetes Australia (DA) and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) has been developed to guide health professionals with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that these guidelines will be updated from time to time as the pandemic situation changes so please check for updates regularly. Note, the latest update has a revised version of the flowchart to include postnatal testing. Please download the revised Diagnostic testing for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic: Antenatal and postnatal testing advice

Updated ADIPS/ADS/DA/ADEA Joint Statement on GDM Diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic (30 April, 2020)

The Australasian Diabetes In Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) together with the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), Diabetes Australia (DA) and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) has been developed to guide health professionals with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that these guidelines will be updated from time to time as the pandemic situation changes so please check for updates regularly. Please download the Updated Diagnostic testing for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic: Antenatal and postnatal testing advice

ADS Telehealth Guide During COVID-19 (23 April, 2020)

The ADS Telehealth guide during COVID-19 is a companion to the webinar presented by A/Prof Anthony Russell on Setting up and conducting telephone/telehealth > services for diabetes during COVID-19 – the webinar can be viewed at:  https://conferenceconnect.tv/ads/live-stream/

Practical recommendations for the management of diabetes in patients with COVID-19 (23 April, 2020)

Please download the International article on ‘Practical recommendations for the management of diabetes in patients with COVID-19’ published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Journal.

Australian Clinical Triage Guide for People with Diabetes-related Foot Disease during COVID-19 Pandemic (8 April, 2020)

The Australian Clinical Triage Guide for People with Diabetes-related Foot Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic is to help Australian clinicians who are triaging and caring for people with Diabetes-related Foot Disease (DFD) during the escalating COVID-19 situation. This guide is designed to support iHRFS and DFD clinicians, as well as primary care providers and community podiatry, on suggested acceptable alternative processes of care provision. They include considerations for service type and frequency according to factors such as the patient’s limb and/or life threatening status, local staffing and resource availability, as well as for minimising risk of COVID-19 infection. Please download the Australian Clinical Triage Guide for People with Diabetes-related Foot Disease during COVID-19 Pandemic. 

ADIPS/ADS/DA/ADEA Joint Statement on GDM Diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic (7 April, 2020)

The Australasian Diabetes In Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) together with the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), Diabetes Australia (DA) and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) have issued a joint statement to guide health professionals with the diagnosis of gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please download the Diagnostic Testing for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic: Antenatal and postnatal testing advice.

ADS Guide for the Management of Diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic (2 April, 2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the focus of clinical services. This impacts diabetes care at tertiary, secondary and primary care levels. Indeed, we have a responsibility to ensure that critical diabetes care continues, with the aim being to minimise the burden on the hospital system as well as to ensure that long-term glycaemic control for people with diabetes continues and complications are prevented. Please download the ADS Guide for the Management of Diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ADS Survey about COVID-19 and Effects on Diabetes Health Professionals (1 April, 2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted diabetes services at all levels and the way that diabetes management is delivered.  The ADS would like to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you.  This will help us with our advocacy efforts with both State and Federal Governments as well as how best the Society can support you. To participate in the ADS COVID-19 survey please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/covid19ads

Updated ADS Communique regarding diabetes and COVID-19 (29 March, 2020)

The ADS has updated the communique regarding diabetes and COVID-19 with respect to information on SGLT2i and ACEi/ARB medications as well as informing new restrictions regarding insulin pump consumables and reservoirs. Please download the full letter from ADS President.

Important Information About Diabetes and COVID-19 (25 March, 2020)

Please download flyer for further important information regarding Diabetes and COVID-19.

Updated ADS Communique regarding diabetes and COVID-19 (21 March, 2020)

The ADS has updated the communique regarding diabetes and COVID-19 with respect to medication usage advice, medication supplies and medical device technology supplies. Please download the full letter from ADS President.

ADS Communique for Health Professionals regarding diabetes and COVID-19 (18 March, 2020)

In light of the coronavirus pandemic the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) is keen to keep health professionals abreast of the latest information to assist with looking after people with diabetes. The ADS acknowledges that diabetes health professionals are facing significant challenges in the delivery of safe and appropriate health care to people with diabetes in both the public and private sectors. Challenges include significant reductions in available staffing due to self-isolation requirements, re-deployment to other areas, other intercurrent illnesses and possible actual infection by COVID-19. We also acknowledge that there will be changes to the delivery of diabetes education in group settings, reduction in face-to-face diabetes care delivery in ambulatory care centres and outpatient clinics. There will also be changes to settings required for direct contact in situations such as emergency diabetes management, insulin commencement, high risk foot services, diabetes in pregnancy and inpatient diabetes care. There will also be reductions and changes in the availability of interpreter services, increased reliance on telehealth/telephone services and variations in technology access for patients. As expected, there are high levels of anxiety in the diabetes community, especially those with type 1 diabetes or with children with type 1 diabetes and we are working with Diabetes Australia on this and related matters. Please download the letter for further information

Webinars for Diabetes Health Professionals

In order to provide up-to-date education and support about management of diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) will be producing a series of video interviews and livestream events. For further information regarding the live webinars please visit the ADS website page at https://diabetessociety.com.au/latest-news-and-updates.asp 

COVID-19 resources for People with Diabetes

Managing Worry about COVID-19 and Diabetes (2 April, 2020)

We know things might be a little scary and uncertain at the moment. Your experience of living with diabetes, and the stresses and uncertainties it brings, means you are likely to be better prepared to cope with this situation than most people. If you find yourself worrying, it might help to focus on the things that you can control in your life. For further information please read fact sheet on Managing worry about COVID-19 and diabetes.

A message to the diabetes community (25 March, 2020)

Please read an important diabetes alliance statement from DA, ADS, APEG, ADEA, JDRF

COVID-19 and the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) (23 March, 2020)

We recognise that people with diabetes and their families may be concerned about their risk, and also the availability of their diabetes medicines and NDSS products and supplies. Most people are continuing to order and receive their NDSS products and diabetes medicines as usual. This ensures enough products are available for everyone. For the latest information on COVID-19 and the NDSS, please visit the NDSS website at ndss.com.au/coronavirus-covid-19-information/. If you need a bit of extra support, or if you are struggling with your diabetes management during this time, please don’t hesitate to call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 to speak to a health professional.

Don’t Stockpile – Consumer Advisory from Australian Diabetes Society (23 March, 2020)

The Australian Department of Health has made an official statement clarifying there are no current shortages of insulin or other diabetes-related products and medicines. Unfortunately, there has been a surge in the number of people stockpiling insulin and other diabetes-related products and medicines. Stockpiling can create local shortages. Please help us stop stockpiling by sharing this post. If you do experience any issues please contact the NDSS with details so it can be investigated. You can contact the NDSS on 1800 637 700. Read the statement provided by the TGA.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information