Australians may be missing out on new diabetes treatments

Friday, 17 March 2017

A free public lecture being held at the University of Adelaide will present the latest research findings into new treatments for type 2 diabetes, which have major implications for effective management.

A leading international researcher is concerned that Australians may not be reaping the benefits of these potentially life-altering treatments.

Professor Michael Nauck is a world leader in diabetes research and a practicing 'diabetologist’. He's the Head of Clinical Research at the Diabetes Division, Medical Department, St Josef-Hospital (Ruhr-University Bochum) in Bochum, Germany.

On Tuesday 21 March, Professor Nauck will deliver the 2017 Northern Communities Public Lecture at the University of Adelaide: New treatments for type 2 diabetes to decrease the risk of heart disease and prolong life.

In his lecture, Professor Nauck will discuss research into type 2 diabetes that he has conducted over more than 25 years. He was the first researcher to recognise the potential of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) for lowering the elevated blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. Drugs that act via GLP-1 are now used widely.

"Our most recent research has shown that, in people with type 2 diabetes, these drugs may also reduce the risk of heart disease and other metabolic conditions," Professor Nauck says.

"What concerns me is that drugs offering potentially clear benefits to Australian patients with type 2 diabetes may not be readily available to them. This is partly because of a lack of drug approval, and partly because some drugs are not appropriately reimbursed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

"In my opinion, the choice of medication – and its accessibility to the public – should be based primarily on scientific evidence. And despite strong scientific evidence for the use of these drugs, Australia appears to be lagging behind many other countries in its treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes," he says.

WHAT: Northern Communities Public Lecture: New treatments for type 2 diabetes to decrease the risk of heart disease and prolong life, by Professor Michael Nauck
WHERE: Florey lecture theatre, Medical School North building, University of Adelaide, off Frome Road, Adelaide
WHEN: 5.30-6.30pm, Tuesday 21 March 2017
COST: Free and open to all – please register

The Northern Communities Lecture is hosted by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide.

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