Diabetes Centre

How we can help you

The Diabetes Centre provides care and education to our Hospital patients and people living in the community who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Centre has a set of guidelines you must meet to attend our medical clinics and services as we cannot see all people with diabetes.

We work with you, your local general practitioner (GP), other health care professionals and your family/carer to identify your needs and help you manage your diabetes. We can provide advice about life-style changes, medicines (including insulin) and support you in learning to live with diabetes.

We will also make appointments with others from our health team (e.g. doctor, dietitian, podiatrist) to prevent or manage complications. We can help you arrange any equipment you might need such as blood glucose testing equipment, insulin devices and supplies, and teach you how to use these.

Who we care for

We care for people who have a diagnosis of Type 1 & 2 diabetes, diabetes caused by disorders of pancreas, steroid induced diabetes and Type 3c diabetes caused by other conditions such as cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis.

Who we are

Our team includes

Endocrinologists or specialist endocrinology doctors in training: Medical specialists who assess, treat and help you manage your diabetes.

Podiatrist: A health professional who treats and manages foot problems caused by having diabetes. The podiatrists at our centre see people in the Diabetes High Risk Foot Service who have diabetes and complex foot conditions. You will need a referral from your medical specialist or family doctor.

Dietitian: A health professional who provides you with food (nutritional) advice and prescribes a diet to help you to self-manage your diabetes, and provides information about diabetes for you and your family or carer.

Diabetes Nurse Educator: A registered nurse who specialises in looking after people with diabetes. A diabetes nurse educator will help you learn about your diabetes, help you to self-manage your diabetes, provide information about diabetes and help support you and your family or carer.

Administration staff will help you make appointments, inform you about what will happen at the diabetes centre and answer any questions you may have about what happens at the diabetes centre.

We work in partnership with your local family doctor (GP), local pharmacies, and the National Diabetes Service Scheme.

Our clinics

We provide clinics for people in the community to come and meet with a specialist doctor or doctor in training to assess and help manage your diabetes. The Diabetes Centre has a set of guidelines you must meet to attend our medical clinics and services as we cannot see all people with diabetes.

You will also see a nurse who will measure your weight, height and blood sugar (glucose) levels.

At some clinics you may also see an optometrist who will conduct a diabetes eye check

Medical Clinic times

Monday 8.45am - 11.30am

Tuesday 8.45am - 11.30am

Wednesday 9.00am - 11.30am

Thursday 2.00pm - 4.30pm (Type 1 diabetes only)

Friday 9.00am - 11.30am

Dietician clinic

Wednesday 12.30 - 4.30 pm

Thursday 8.30am - 4.30pm

Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm

Optometrist clinic

Monday 9.30am - 11.00am

Wednesday 9.30am - 11.00am

Diabetes High Risk Foot Services

Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 4.30 pm

Multi-disciplinary Diabetes High Risk Foot Clinic

You may be referred to this clinic if you have a complex diabetes foot problem such as a wound that is not getting better or a foot problem known as Charcot’s neuropathy. In this clinic you will be seen by a team of specialist doctors, allied health professional and specialist doctors in training.

Thursdays once a month 9.00 - 11.00am

How to make or cancel a clinic appointment

If you need to make an appointment please ask your local general practitioner (GP) for a referral letter explaining your medical history, list of any medicines you are taking and diabetes blood test results.

Ask your GP to complete this referral electronically via Healthlink. See this webpage for further information around electronic referrals.

Once we have received your referral, we will send you and your GP a letter with appointment details. If you provide your mobile phone number you will receive a SMS reminder 5 days before your appointment. Please let the Diabetes Centre know if you do not want to receive a SMS reminder.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment please telephone the Diabetes Centre on 02 9382 4600.

Appointments with our dietician, diabetes educator or at our Diabetes High Risk Foot Service

The Diabetes Centre has a set of guidelines you must meet to see one of these health professionals. If you need to make an appointment please ask your local general practitioner (GP) to send a referral letter to Diabetes Clinic electronically via Healthlink. See this webpage for further information around electronic referrals. Include the reason for referral and who it is addressed to (e.g. podiatrist, dietitian or diabetes educator).

If you need an urgent appointment ask your GP to phone the Diabetes Centre.

What to bring to your appointment

Please bring:

Any test results you have from the last three months.
- Sugar (glucose) average (HbA1c)
- Blood fats (cholesterol and lipids)
- Kidney (kidney function, urine microalbumin and electrolytes).
Data downloaded from your insulin pump/glucose monitoring device or the device itself
Your eye report if you have one
Your referral letter from your GP
Your Medicare card
A list of your medicines OR bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines
Your blood sugar testing machine AND your blood sugar record book if you have one
A snack or drink if needed
You are welcome to bring a support person (a relative, friend or carer) with you

Commonly asked questions

Will I always see the same doctor at each visit?

We are a teaching hospital so you will be seen by a specialist doctor or a specialist endocrinology doctor in training. You will stay under the care of the specialist doctor but you may see the specialist endocrine doctor in training for your appointments.

Can I choose the day and time I attend the centre for my appointment?

The Diabetes Centre has doctor clinics, complex diabetes foot clinics, education clinics and dietitian clinics at set times. We try to find an appointment time that allows you to attend. The Diabetes Centre opening hours are 8.00am - 4.00pm.

How often do I need to attend the Diabetes Centre?

How often you need to attend the centre may change depending on who you see and how your diabetes is going.

What if I need help with my diabetes and not due for my appointment?

Make an appointment with your local GP to discuss your issues first. If your local doctor needs some advice they can telephone the specialist doctor in training at the Diabetes Centre.

What happens if I need a prescription before my next diabetes visit?

Contact your local GP.

Useful resources

Both these websites contain useful information

Diabetes Australia
National Diabetes Services Scheme

Research, training and education

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present at your appointment. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will no impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Do you need an interpreter?

Please tell us if you need an interpreter before your appointment on 02 9382 4600. You can contact us by phoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450. Please advise the operator what language you speak, and then ask the operator to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and us on 9382 4600.