BEECHWORTH'S Bec Humphreys is one of seven recipients who have shared a $10,000 grant for professional development under this year's 2020 Gwen Scott Grant Program. The award announced by Diabetes Victoria during National Diabetes Week (10 to 16 July) has given Ms Humphreys the chance to attend a virtual conference which provides important updates to current research and therapies available for diabetes care.
"There is a lot of research and development in this space and practice guidelines are changing all of the time," Ms Humphreys said.
"Being from a regional area means that we can be left behind our metropolitan colleagues if we don't keep up to date." Besides hearing about the latest research, insight into what others are doing to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes is also gained. A diabetes educator for 16 years, Ms Humphreys said she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when 17 years old. "A lot has changed in the last 26 years and we have come a long way from using glass syringes for insulin injections and urine testing to see what your glucose level is," she said.
"Now we have insulin pumps and continuous glucose sensors that can automatically adjust insulin which is really exciting." With tight health budgets where it was not always possible to attend conferences from financial constraints, the grants enable healthcare professionals to stay up to date with 'Best Practice'. "This conference is being delivered in a virtual format now due to COVID -19 but it does mean that more people may be able to attend," Ms Humphreys said.
The program created by Diabetes Victoria in 2006 is part of a commitment to health professionals who support those affected by, or at risk of, diabetes. Diabetes Victoria chief executive Craig Bennett said more than 346,000 Victorians are known to be living with the disease.
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"There is an increasing need to provide health professionals opportunities to expand their knowledge and understanding of diabetes, including up-to-date management options and general health promotion strategies,” he said. “Diabetes increases a person’s risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision and loss of a limb - the more we can encourage health professionals to further their learning in the field of diabetes, the better for all Victorians.”
Gwen Scott was Australia’s first nurse employed as a specialist in diabetes education and the first employee of the Diabetic Association of Victoria, which is Diabetes Victoria today.
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