Introducing Diabetes Remission Endo-Telehealth Rapid Access Clinics – a new way of treating type 2 diabetes
GPs can now consider referring eligible patients to the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s new Diabetes Remission Endo-Telehealth Rapid Access Clinics (DR Endo-TRACS).
The clinics, operated by the hospital’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Department, provide a team-based approach to diabetes and weight management, keeping general practice embedded in the process.
It involves hospital specialists, diabetes nurses and dietitians, who work with the patient, their GP and practice nurse to create a management plan.
The DR Endo-TRACS model builds on the findings of the UK-based Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT). The trial was designed to determine whether a structured, intensive, weight management program, delivered in a routine primary care setting, was a viable treatment for achieving durable normoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology concluded “the DiRECT program sustained remissions at 24 months for more than a third of people with type 2 diabetes. Sustained remission was linked to the extent of sustained weight loss.”
DR Endo-TRACS is delivered via telehealth, and runs for between 6 and 12 months depending on the patient. It starts with a meeting with a diabetes nurse and is followed by a minimum of 7 consultations with the broader team.
The management plan is a combination of treatment approaches including pharmacotherapy, and includes recommendations for diet, exercise and medications. The patient’s GP plays a critical role, coordinating referrals to community allied health practitioners and monitoring patient progress alongside the multidisciplinary care team.
Patient eligibility
Consider referring patients to DR Endo-TRACS if they:
- are 18 or older
- have had a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in the past 2 years
- have central abdominal obesity
- have a waist higher than 80cm in women and 94cm in men
- have a body mass index higher than 25
- are willing to make lifestyle changes.
Referral pathways
GPs can refer eligible patients by faxing a referral form to (03) 9342 8933.
The form is located in the resources section below.
More information
If you have any questions, please contact the Diabetes Remission Clinic and the DR Endo-TRACS team on (03) 9342 2600 or email DiabetesRemissionClinic@mh.org.au
