Metabolic & Endocrine
Management of diabetes, insulin pump therapy, and CGM services
Leaders in Diabetes Management.
Our team at the Integrated Health Institute is committed to providing outstanding care for our patients. We are at the forefront of diabetes care and strive for excellence through Education, Evidence, Empathy and Excellence.
Our mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes through world-class expertise, innovation and collaboration. We aim to prevent complications through early diagnosis and intervention, improve quality of life for those living with diabetes and provide an integrated approach to care across the lifespan.
Our philosophy is to provide a “one-stop shop” for all your diabetes needs under one roof; this means that you can have all your appointments for your specialist visits at one location rather than having to travel around different hospitals or clinics for each appointment.
We are committed to offering a holistic approach to treating chronic disease that includes education on nutrition, lifestyle modification and exercise programs, as well as providing access to advanced technologies such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGM).
We also have dedicated clinics for pre-diabetes patients, which provide detailed information about different types of diabetes and guidance on lifestyle changes that can help manage your risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
Our team includes endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, diabetes educators, weight loss surgeons, sports physicians, podiatrists, physiotherapists and dietitians.
Our integrated approach is designed to ensure that you receive the highest quality of care for your diabetes. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including:
- diagnosis, management and treatment of diabetes
- insulin pump therapy – providing education and support for people using insulin pumps
- continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) – providing education and support for people using CGM devices
- metabolic surgery – providing pre-operative assessment, surgical management and aftercare following weight loss (bariatric) surgery
Discover a better way to manage diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system destroys beta cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but research has proven that it has a strong genetic link and cannot be prevented. People who get diabetes may have one or more genes that make type 1 diabetes more likely. Then, some kind of environmental trigger starts the autoimmune reaction. Some examples of triggers are an infection or a high level of stress. Triggers are not always easy to find.
Type 1 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic childhood diseases symptoms are sudden and obvious, whereas, in adults, onset is delayed. Symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. Multiple insulin injections or an insulin pump are used to treat this condition.
Management of Type 1 Diabetes
The use of insulin pumps by people with type 1 diabetes in Australia has become increasingly popular. Currently, 1 in 10 people with type 1 diabetes in Australia use insulin pumps instead of multiple daily injections to deliver their daily insulin requirement.
Insulin injections or an insulin pump are used to treat those with type 1 diabetes. Insulin cannot be administered in pill form as the stomach will break it down and render it ineffective.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Maintaining blood glucose levels in the target range is crucial for diabetes management. Monitoring, recording, and interpreting your blood glucose levels (BGLs), also known as blood sugar levels, is vital for you and your healthcare team.
Blood glucose metres, FGMs, and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) measure glucose levels. Learn more about CGMs, which are now fully subsidised for all Australians with Type 1 Diabetes.
Having a healthcare team to whom you can turn for advice, support, and care is crucial for those with type 1 diabetes. At the Diabetes Institute, our team work together to create individualised care plans that are effective for the individual. Endocrinologists (doctors who specialise in hormones and diabetes), diabetes educators, dietitians, sleep doctors, podiatrists, exercise physiologists, psychologists, endocrine surgeons and bariatric surgeons may all be a part of your care team at the Diabetes Institute.
Our team is dedicated to creating personalised treatment plans to manage Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is a condition in which the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin and gradually loses the ability to produce enough insulin in the pancreas. The condition has strong genetic and family-related (non-modifiable) risk factors and is also often associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors, including smoking, alcohol intake, diet and physical activity.
Management of Type 2 Diabetes
Initially, type 2 diabetes can often be managed with healthy eating and regular physical activity. Over time many people with type 2 diabetes will also need tablets and/or non-insulin injectable medications, and many eventually require insulin injections. It is important to note that this is normal, and taking tablets, non-insulin injectable medications or insulin as soon as it is required can result in fewer long-term complications.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Maintaining blood glucose levels in the target range is crucial for diabetes management. Monitoring, recording, and interpreting your blood glucose levels (BGLs), also known as blood sugar levels, is vital for you and your healthcare team.
Blood glucose metres, FGMs, and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) measure glucose levels. Learn more about CGMs, which are now fully subsidised for all Australians with Type 1 Diabetes.
Having a healthcare team to whom you can turn for advice, support, and care is crucial for those with type 1 diabetes. At the Diabetes Institute, our team work together to create individualised care plans that are effective for the individual. Endocrinologists (doctors who specialise in hormones and diabetes), diabetes educators, dietitians, sleep doctors, podiatrists, exercise physiologists, psychologists, endocrine surgeons and bariatric surgeons may all be a part of your care team at the Diabetes Institute.
Our team is dedicated to creating personalised treatment plans to manage type 2 diabetes.
Insulin Pumps
An insulin pump is a way of delivering insulin that offers increased flexibility, improved glucose levels and improved quality of life. A pump is an automated device that can provide your daily insulin requirements over 24 hours. The insulin is released into the blood continuously, removing the need for multiple injections daily. This means you will have more control over your body’s glucose levels, helping to manage diabetes better.
Research has shown that insulin pump therapy can reduce the frequency of severe hypoglycaemia and improve quality of life.
Using a pump may also improve suboptimal blood glucose control.
Using an insulin pump may:
- reduce large fluctuations in BGLs
- improve blood glucose (diabetes) levels
- increase your flexibility in the quantity and timing of meals
- decrease your risk of hypoglycaemia during exercise while maintaining optimal BGLs
- improve your quality of life
Reference: Diabetes Australia, 2023
Pump therapy may especially be of assistance if any of the following applies to you:
- hypoglycaemia unawareness (inability to detect ‘hypos’)
- severe and frequent hypoglycaemia
- frequent nighttime hypoglycaemia
- gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)
- an unpredictable lifestyle or daily routine (e.g. working nightshifts)
- extreme insulin sensitivity
- dawn phenomenon (rising blood glucose early in the morning)
- planning for and during pregnancy
Reference: Diabetes Australia, 2023
Talk to our team about whether insulin pump therapy is right for you.
CGM Monitors
A Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) device is a compact, wearable glucose monitor that continuously tests and displays glucose levels. They may be programmed to sound alarms and send warnings if your glucose levels exceed the predetermined range. CGM systems devices also display arrows to indicate when glucose levels are rising or declining, as well as the rate at which they are fluctuating or remaining stable.
Achieving and maintaining blood glucose levels within the target range is crucial for a healthy diabetes lifestyle.
These devices reduce the number of daily blood glucose readings that need a fingerstick. Devices can operate alone or with an insulin pump, smartphone, or other appropriate device (via an app).
