BY DAKOTA TAIT
A Hunter diabetes care project has been given a $12.4 million grant to help fund further research and the creation of a new medibus, to bring much-needed services to rural and regional areas.
The Diabetes Alliance Program - a partnership between the Hunter Medical Research Institute, Hunter New England Health Health District, and the University of Newcastle - is set to be scaled up thanks to the Colonial Foundation grant.
One in ten people in the Hunter New England region have diabetes, but over half of them are yet to be diagnosed with the condition.
It's hoped, developing a new clinic on wheels will help extend specialist treatment to communities which often struggle with healthcare access.
The bus will bring multidisciplinary teams, including nurses, dietitians, Aboriginal health workers, and endocrinologists, both to deliver treatment and to train local providers.
