New Gestational Diabetes Recipes Website
GestationalDiabetesRecipes.com is a new recipe, information and community website aimed primarily at women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

The website was developed by a mother frustrated at not finding a place online where she could easily find GDM-friendly recipes and hear other mother’s experiences with gestational diabetes. She partnered with an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Credentialled Diabetes Educator to create dietitian reviewed GDM-friendly recipes for the website.

The website aims to help women keep to the GDM diet and therefore improve the birth outcomes for both themselves and their babies. Also by connecting women with other mothers’ inspiring and encouraging stories around gestational diabetes, women will feel supported and less stigmatised.

GestationalDiabetesRecipes.com is the first website in Australia providing practical information and access to the GDM community. 

The website has been endorsed by Dr Glynis Ross, Endocrinologist at RPAH.

National register for GDM Women
The National Gestational Diabetes Register has been established within the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) to help women who have had gestational diabetes to manage their health into the future. 

The Register is taking registrations from 1 July 2011. Registration with the National Gestational Diabetes Register is free. Women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (ante or post natally), reside in Australia and hold, or are eligible to hold, an Australian Medicare Card are entitled to register.

Patients registered will:
a) receive regular reminders for follow-up diabetes screening
b) information on maintaining healthy lifestyle and minimise risk of Type 2 diabetes
c) access subsidised NDSS products for 12 months.

For your patient to qualify for the benefits of the National Register, a registration form needs to be completed and signed by their GP or a credentialled diabetes educator. The registered GP will also receive reminders regarding patients requiring follow-up.

The form and further information can be obtained by calling Infoline on 1300 136 588 or accessed from the web: http://www.ndss.com.au/GD/

The information on the register will not include clinical notes and will only be shared with patient consent. Women can choose to opt out of receiving information at any time.

The NDSS will soon have a Gestational Diabetes Information Pack for General Practitioners which contains information about the resources provided to women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are registered with the NDSS as well as a quick reference checklists* for GPs to assist in the delivery and management of diabetes services to women with gestational diabetes.

*The information in these health professional packs is based on Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADiPS) management of GDM and post GDM follow-up guidelines.

Newborn and paediatric blood collection centres
At the ANSC Update in June, an issue was raised as to what pathology collections centres offer paediatric blood collection services. To date the following information was obtained:
All centres require an appointment time prior -

RPAH Medical Centre Pathology
Level 3 Suite 307 RPAH Medical Centre
100 Carillion Ave, Newtown
Service hours : 10-3pm  
Ph: 9515 8840
Fax: 9519 9154

Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology : Five Dock
For newborn and paediatric
225 Great North Road Five Dock
Ph: 9712 1387
Fax: 9713 5792

Douglas Hanly Moir Pathology : Balmain
Children 1-5 years
Shop 8 Village Arcade,
269-271 Darling Street, Balmain  
Phone: 9555 1043
Fax: 9555 1108

RSVP for ANSC small group events - don’t assume that you are booked in
Due to the increasing number of GPs expressing interest in attending these events and the limited places available, please note that unless you receive confirmation from myself that you are definitely booked in or on the waiting list you will need to follow-up with me via phone or email.

Only those with confirmed bookings will received further details ie. time, place to meet etc regarding the event. If you don’t receive such information then you are not booked.

For reference, with all CSGPN events a text message is sent on the day of the event as a reminder only to those that have registered.