RBWH opens Australia-first Preoperative Diabetes Optimisation Clinic

A multidisciplinary team of RBWH clinicians have started Australia’s first dedicated clinic for optimising patients’ diabetes control prior to elective surgery.

(L-R) Gemma Woodruff, Pharmacist, Margaret Whillier, Diabetes Educator and Heike Krausse, Diabetes Educator

RBWH Pharmacist Abby Yu proposed the clinic after seeing an increase in patients with inadequate diabetes control prior to surgery.

Going into surgery with high glucose levels presents numerous risks for patients with diabetes including an increased risk of infection and increased length of stay, resulting in poorer outcomes and overall quality of life. More than 25 per cent of RBWH inpatients have diabetes.

Patients who are referred to the clinic are reviewed by a pharmacist, diabetes educator and endocrinologist prior to their operation. The team also liaises with community care providers for patients where appropriate.

Diabetes Educator Nurse Margaret Whillier said they have received over 300 referrals since the clinic commenced in January 2021.

“The large number of referrals shows the need for this service at RBWH,” Ms Whillier said.

“While there are many diabetes clinics at hospitals across Australia, this is the first one to be funded by surgery, for surgical patients. The use of special continuous glucose monitors within the clinic also helps the clinic to fast-track optimisation of patients’ blood glucose levels prior to their surgery.

“The clinic is proving to be a great opportunity to talk with patients who don’t have a health professional looking after their diabetes and to make a positive impact.

“We’re connecting with patients in rural areas via telehealth, which is really important as people in rural areas with Type 2 Diabetes are typically two years behind people in metro areas with their diabetes treatment.”