Mrs Zoe Maidment1, Mrs Sarah Pratt1, Mrs Jalina Pivetta1, Ms Hayami Aboutaleb1, Ms Marcia Smith1, Ms Rebekah Laslett1, Ms Alex Roe1
1SA Health – Northern Adelaide LHN, Elizabeth, Australia
Biography:
Zoe is the Senior Manager of the Intermediate Care Service (ICS) within the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN). With a passion for improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for individuals within the community, Zoe leads a dynamic and multidisciplinary team of dedicated clinicians who work together to provide innovative and person-centred care.
Under Zoe's leadership, ICS focuses on bridging the gap between hospital care and community support, optimizing functional outcomes for clients, and helping them regain control over their health and wellbeing, and ensuring they have the necessary tools to live life on their own terms.
Abstract:
In the 2021 Australian Census, 4.8% of Australians self-reported having diabetes (ABS 2021), with the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) experiencing a higher rate of 6.5%. NALHN also has the highest proportion of vulnerable populations in South Australia, with 61% identified as vulnerable (APHN 2020). Self-management is particularly challenging for people in low socioeconomic areas, but crucial to prevent adverse health impacts
Living Well With Diabetes (LWWD) is an 8-week, patient centred program supported by a multidisciplinary team (Exercise Physiologists, Chronic Disease Practitioners, Dietitians, and Podiatrists) providing weekly workshops promoting self-management, physical health education and peer behavioural learning as well as bi-weekly group based exercise.
The program incorporated a mixed-methods approach, targeting individuals diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes within NALHN. Outcome measures included consumer surveys, the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire, and physical tests (6-minute walk test, Sit-to-Stand, biceps curl, and grip strength).
Preliminary results (n=16) indicated positive mean changes: medication adherence (+2.3), glucose monitoring (+2.2), and insulin management (+2.4) on the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Participants also showed improvements in physical health, including +55m in the 6MWT, and increased strength (+4.1 in 30s Sit-to-Stand, +4.5 in 30s biceps curl, and +3.4kg in grip strength).
Ongoing evaluations reveal positive changes in daily routines, symptom recognition, dietary adjustments, and increased confidence in diabetes management. The program’s integrated, team-based approach may offer a sustainable, cost-efficient model that delivers high-quality care while fostering community engagement.