Barwon Health and Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative work together in clinical trial for Indigenous Australians with type 2 diabetes
Barwon Health is proud to be conducting a Type 2 diabetes trial with research partner Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative. The study, called Flash, is the first in hopefully many more clinical trials between Barwon Health and Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative.
Currently, monitoring blood sugar (glucose) levels through finger pricks is painful and doesn’t provide enough information – especially for people with diabetes using injectable medication. Flash Glucose Monitors (FlashGM) are easy-to-use new devices worn on the arm that provide real-time blood glucose levels to guide diabetes treatment.
The Flash Study will assess if these monitors help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to gain better understanding and management of their blood glucose to avoid complications like kidney failure, heart attacks and blindness. The team hopes that this research will improve diabetes care and health service delivery for Indigenous and other high-risk Australians. The study is led by the University of Melbourne, with Barwon Health the participating site for Western Victoria.
Clinical trials deliver important benefits for all participants who receive close monitoring and medical oversight by highly trained teams. Participants in trials often have better health outcomes than patients who are not enrolled on a trial and this has been proven in research outcomes.
The Flash team from Barwon and Wathaurong ensure the experience for participants is positive and culturally aware. This means going above and beyond in some circumstances, such as when Barwon Health Study Manager Kate recently needed some urgent Flash sensors for participants, but the sensors were located in Yorta Yorta country near Shepparton.
Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Flash Study Coordinator Belinda drove 3 hours to meet Kate in a carpark in Geelong to exchange the sensors late one Friday afternoon (pictured). Kate happened to have a spare ticket to that night’s game at GMHBA Stadium which she gave to Belinda, who is a loyal Geelong Cats fan! Their spirit of support and collaboration, and focus on doing what is best for participants is indicative of our Clinical Trials teams, and we are excited to continue making a contribution.
To learn more about the Flash study, please click here to watch a 3 minute video. To register your interest in participating, please contact Alicia Waight, Flash Study Coordinator on 03 4215 2880 or [email protected] .