Mr Castrilli asks about diabetes programs in WA. The Minister for Health outlines programs funded by the Department of Health and emphasises preventative measures like diet and exercise.

AnsweredQoN 782Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 November 2013
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

WORLD DIABETES DAY
782. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Health:
I note that diabetes is a growing health concern in
Australia. Given that today is World Diabetes Day —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
call the member for Girrawheen to order for the third time.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI :
Could the minister please outline to the house some of the excellent programs
available here in Western Australia to help people with type 1 or type 2
diabetes?

AnswerView source ↗

I will be brief because I gave a
ministerial statement for those who were here, and we had a morning tea to
recognise World Diabetes Day. I want to congratulate the members of the
parliamentary diabetes support group: the member for Kingsley, the member for Kwinana,
the member for Girrawheen, the member for Warnbro, the member for East
Metropolitan and Hon Robin Chapple from the Greens party. A collection of
members across this Parliament recognised World Diabetes Day and that diabetes
is becoming the fastest-growing chronic health condition in Australia. It is
surpassing cardiac and respiratory diseases as the most common chronic
condition. It is also linked with the growing problem we have with obesity in
this state. Some of us might resemble that remark.
Mr D.J. Kelly : You
said that yesterday.
Dr K.D. HAMES :
Yes, but that was about a different thing. I saw the Speaker rubbing his tummy,
which is what encouraged me to make that comment. The Speaker should not have
done that. He is sitting up very straight.
I will answer the question with some of the programs that we
are doing. The Department of Health has allocated $14 million over four years
to the better health improvement program for integrated services to help people
with diabetes, including the metropolitan healthy lifestyle program, chronic
conditions self-management program, chronic conditions service coordination and
multidisciplinary care and service coordination for persons with diabetes.
Diabetes is becoming a chronic
condition because people are not looking after their health. It is critical for
people with the potential for diabetes to make sure that they have a proper
diet, regular exercise and control their weight. Together, those three things
will prevent the onset of one of the most common chronic conditions in our
health system.

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