Groundbreaking trial shows 30% diabetes remission for Aboriginal women

The groundbreaking study is the first of its kind in Australia, led by Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation in collaboration with Southern Cross University and the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine.

The research demonstrated the impressive outcomes achieved by genuinely Aboriginal-led programs. Shared Medical Appointments, continuous glucose monitors and a culturally relevant food program were the three core elements of the program, designed to develop self-management knowledge, skills and motivation to drastically improve glycaemic control in First Nations women.

Lead investigator and Southern Cross University lecturer Associate Professor John Stevens said of the 25 women who’d been living with diabetes for more than 10 years, seven women completely reversed their diabetes for at least 12 months, and 18 women reduced their blood sugars to a healthier level.

“These women were empowered to make decisions about what was going to happen, which led to high engagement in the program and remarkable success,” Professor Stevens said.

The eight-week lifestyle program provided a weekly Shared Medical Appointment, where the clinician – in this case a general practitioner – sits in a yarning circle with other allied health professionals and the participants. This eliminated power imbalances experienced by Aboriginal women previously in health care settings. 

Statistically significant improvements were also observed for weight, systolic blood pressure, liver enzymes, blood glucose time-in-range, and HbA1c scores, indicating improved self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus," said Professor Stevens.

"The women provide each other with peer support, as they all were on the same journey and had all experienced racism and inherent bias prior to the Diabetes Remission for Aboriginal Women (DRAW) program. This program offered a culturally safe space to really understand diabetes. This created agency and hope that there can be positive outcomes after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes," said co-author Hayley Longbottom, Waminda Chief Executive Leader for Health and Wellness.

"These results prove what we can do when programs and health care service delivery are Aboriginal-led. We come from a determinants of health approach, giving our women the tools to feel in control to create self-determining outcomes.

"The Continuous Glucose Monitoring, alongside remote health coaching by our Credentialled Diabetes Educators provided a unique experience for participants to learn about their own bodies and not only manage, but reverse their diabetes. Having an Aboriginal Health Practitioner to provide wrap-around health care scaffolds this experience, providing long-term support, and the outcomes needed for our people,” Ms Longbottom said.

Participants have said in feedback that ‘Shared Medical Appointments are how Aboriginal people have always done health care … and now we are keen to re-engage with Aboriginal  Community Controlled Health organisations services that provide a model of care that feels safe.’

Professor Stevens says this innovative study represents a significant step forward in addressing the disproportionate impact of type 2 diabetes on First Nations communities in Australia and overseas, offering a promising model for culturally appropriate diabetes care.

Full study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/15598276241312084

Key insights are demonstrated in a qualitative study that is currently underway. Contact Hayley Longbottom at Waminda for more information on the program.

Learn more about studying Lifestyle Medicine at Southern Cross University here: Lifestyle Medicine - Southern Cross University