Through geo-epidemiology our aim is to increase GP awareness about the hidden burden of disease at a practise level both for the diagnosed, so secondary prevention of complications  can be implemented and the potentially undiagnosed with dysglycaemia who need to be identified and supported with lifestyle modification programmes.  We looked at the population who attended GP’s. Not everybody who attends a GP will have a blood test, but for those who did, analysis of data exposes the burden of diabetes.

In the sample of 1.5 M who had a pathology  test over the 12 months  at a minimum

·         Each doctor will have for every 10 diabetes patients diagnosed at least another 4 with abnormal BGL’s in the diabetes range potentially undiagnosed (though Valentine et al, suggest this number may be as high as 8). As GP’s we need to improve our efforts to manage the known diabetics. Given that many people do not realise they have diabetes till complications develop,  raising awareness in primary care to at least find the patients under our care with diabetes should be a prime task we all commit to. Only then can we have an impact on complication prevention.

·         Each doctor will have for every 10 diabetes patients diagnosed at least 13 patients with abnormal BGL’s in the pre diabetes range (primary prevention). Developing systems and procedures to help identify these patients and then support these patients with services and support that can be available through Medicare locals, Local Medical Organizations and other support systems such as Corporate Managed GP clinics providing LMP’s, lifecsripts, nursing support  etc is achievable in GP.

According to the RACGP, GP will see ~ 80% of the Australian population in a 12 month period. Understanding and identifying the burden of disease in our patient load will guide GPs to establish and implement systems, procedures and supports for better management long term.