• Audrey S Eer, Tracey Hearn, Sharon Atkinson-Briggs, Shannon Drake, Satpal Singh, Sandra Neoh, Felicity Pyrlis, Mariam Hachem, Jeffrey D Zajac, Luke J Burchill, Richard C O'Brien, and Elif I Ekinci.
• Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2023 May 1; 53 (5): 787797787-797.

BackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher rates of diabetes and its complications than non-Aboriginal people. Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative is the major primary healthcare provider for Aboriginal people in the Greater Shepparton region.AimsTo evaluate the baseline metabolic parameters and presence of diabetes complications in people with type 2 diabetes attending Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative in 2017 and compare it with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies and Australian specialist diabetes services.MethodsClinical and biochemical characteristics, including diabetes type, age, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, micro- and macrovascular complications, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), haemoglobin, renal function, lipid profile, urine albumin:creatinine ratio, diabetes medications, renin angiotensin system inhibition therapies, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and antiplatelet agents, were determined.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-six individuals had diabetes, 121 had type 2 diabetes. One hundred and thirteen identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Median age was 57.5 (48-68) years, median HbA1c was 7.8% (6.8-9.6) and median BMI was 33.4 kg/m2 (29-42.3). Compared with other Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, this population was older and had more obesity, but with better glycaemia management. Compared with specialist diabetes services, this population was of similar age, with greater BMI but comparable HbA1c.ConclusionsAboriginal people living with type 2 diabetes attending this regional Aboriginal health service have comparable glycaemic management to specialist diabetes services in Australia, managed largely by primary care physicians with limited access to specialist care for the past 5 years.© 2022 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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