Sharing the diabetes in pregnancy story

About these resources

Having diabetes during pregnancy is getting more and more common. This includes both gestational diabetes (GDM), which is found for the first time during pregnancy, and pre-existing diabetes that is diagnosed before pregnancy. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, the most common form of pre-existing diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Looking after diabetes before, during and after pregnancy can be hard work. These videos have been created to help support women living with GDM or type 2 diabetes to have a healthy pregnancy.

The videos have been developed in consultation with Aboriginal women across the Northern Territory and Torres Strait Islander women in Cairns and the Torres Strait. Many different health professionals across Northern Australia have also contributed to ensure that appropriate and accurate advice is given. This work has been led by Dr Matthew Hare, Endocrinologist at Royal Darwin Hospital and Senior Research Fellow with the Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership, based at Menzies School of Health Research.

There are 8 topics covered in separate short videos. Production of additional versions of the videos in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages has begun. These will be added to the website as they become available.

Any feedback about the videos is welcome via: diabetespartnership@menzies.edu.au

Acknowledgements

We are so grateful to the women who were willing to sit with us and share their experiences of living with diabetes on camera. Thank you also to the numerous health professionals who willingly gave of their time and expertise in developing the key messages and communication strategy for this project; to the Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group who provided oversight and guidance for the project; and to the staff from partnering health services who assisted the project, including Katherine West Health Board, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Royal Darwin Hospital, Alice Springs Hospital, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, and Cairns Diabetes Centre.

Permission to use the Torres Strait Islander flag (designed by the late Mr Bernard Namok) has been granted by the Torres Strait Island Regional Council.