Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange has gratefully acknowledged the support of a local diabetes support group through a recent $2 000 donation.

 

The Australian Diabetes Council Orange Support Group made the donation in recognition of the University’s ongoing efforts to develop tests to detect early complications caused by the disease.

 

Support group treasurer Mr Robert Honeysett said the donation marked the second year in a row the group had contributed $2,000 to the University's research.

 

“We became aware of the research program last year and I said, I think the University is now a local entity, we have got a few dollars in the bank, why don’t we show some support?” he said.

 

“Charles Sturt University in Orange is our local University, and the research is in an area dear to all our hearts; unless people put money into research like this it will never happen.”

 

Researcher Dr Hayder Al-Aubaidy from the School of Community Health at CSU said the research program was designed to identify biochemical markers that could improve current screening techniques.

 

It's hoped the markers will help clinicians identify people with ‘pre-diabetes’, and to monitor the progression of the disease and the development of any associated complications.

 

“Current monitoring techniques focus on blood glucose levels and glycated haemoglobin, but these levels can vary according to a range of other health conditions,” Dr Al-Aubaidy said.

 

“Our aim is to find a series of biochemical markers that can be used to identify patients at risk of developing diabetes or who are already ‘pre-diabetic’ so they can take steps to minimise the health effects.”

 

The School of Community Health has run a diabetes screening program at CSU in Albury-Wodonga for the past 10 years, and Dr Al-Aubaidy said he hoped to establish a similar program in Orange  next year using equipment partly funded by the group’s donations and a recent research infrastructure block grant.

 

“We will use the money to buy some of the necessary equipment for CSU in Orange and additional equipment will be brought in from Albury,” he said.

 

“The screening program will help residents from Orange and the surrounding areas, and the results of the research program will be useful to all Australians.”

 

Mr Honeysett said a partnership between the Orange Support Group and the University was in everyone’s interest and encouraged any diabetics, carers or other interested people to join the group at its monthly meeting at the Community Health Centre, Kite Street in Orange. You can contact the Centre on 02 6362 7822.