Useful links:

 

Go for 2 and 5! (www.gofor2and5.com.au)

Eating plenty of fruit and vegies not only contributes to good health, but also protects against a number of diseases and helps maintain a healthy weight. Most Australians eat only half the amount of fruit and vegies recommended for good health. Adults need to eat at least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegies each day. The amount children need depends on their age. Here you can find out about the benefits of fruit and vegies, nifty ways to get more fruit and vegies into your day, plus some super simple tasty recipes.

 

Find thirty (www.findthirty.com.au)

For adults, at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week is needed for good health. And the great news is you don't need to do the 30 minutes all in one go. Three lots of 10 minutes is just as beneficial and might be easier to fit into your day. The Find thirty ^® campaign encourages people to be sufficiently active for good health. Just 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week is all you need.

 

Active Launceston (www.activelaunceston.com.au)

Active Launceston is a community driven project aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Launceston through increased participation in physical activity. 

 

Quitline (www.quittas.org.au)

It is Quitline Tasmania’s mission to promote health for all people in Tasmania by undertaking activities designed to eliminate or reduce exposure to tobacco in all its forms.  

 

National Heart Foundation (www.heartfoundation.org.au)

Since being established in 1959, the Heart Foundation has funded world-class cardiovascular research, supported health professionals in their practice, developed health promotion activities, informed and educated the public and assisted people with cardiovascular disease. 

 

Diabetes Tasmania (www.diabetestas.com.au)

Diabetes Tasmania provides education and awareness to people with diabetes and the Tasmanian community. Access to healthy eating advice and diabetes education, group programs and NDSS services.  (click here)

 

Diabetes Australia (www.diabetesaustralia.com.au)

National peak body for diabetes providing a collective voice for people living with diabetes, their families and carers. Research funding, health services

 

Royal Australian Collage of General Practitioners (www.racgp.org.au)

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training. The RACGP have worked with Diabetes Australia to develop the national risk factor targets for those with type 2 diabetes.

Search for Type 2 Diabetes Management guidelines.

 

The COACH Program® (www.thecoachprogram.com)

Home page for The COACH Program® facilitated by Diabetes Tasmania as part of Diabetes Assist.  The COACH Program is an innovative coaching program for people with chronic disease. The COACH Program trains people with coronary heart disease or other related chronic diseases to manage their cardiovascular risk factors while working with their usual doctor. 

Presented by Diabetes Tasmania and fully funded by the Tasmanian Government's Department of Health and Human Services, Diabetes Assist is free for all participants and is designed to assist people no matter where they live in Tasmania.

 

In 2008 the Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services funded Diabetes Tasmania to implement a telephone based educational and self management service, based on The COACH Program® to improve health outcomes and reduce lifestyle risk factors for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, or with significant biomedical risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

 

They were also funded to provide group community based nutrition services across Tasmania for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and others in the community who would benefit from these services.

 

An estimated 40,000 people are affected by diabetes in Tasmania. In addition 65,000 Tasmanian’s have impaired glucose tolerance or pre diabetes. This is amongst the highest number described internationally.

 

Diabetes Tasmania is a social enterprise organisation whose key focus is to improve the health outcomes of people with diabetes and to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and their families and carers.

 

The COACH Program® and the community nutrition services have been running since January 2009 and Diabetes Tasmania has a number of coaches currently involved in the program. All are either fully qualified Dietitians or Diabetes Educators who have undertaken The COACH Program® training.

 

By July 2010 Diabetes Tasmania had assisted over 200 Tasmanian to understand their diabetes management better and work towards achieving their risk factor targets. Healthy shopping tours and groups education sessions have also been running successfully state-wide each month.

 

For more information regarding Diabetes Assist contact Diabetes Tasmania on 1300 745 153.