28 April 2022
According to the 2020 Australian Bureau of Statistics report on Causes of Death in Australia, diabetes was the third leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people[i]. As the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia, diabetes left undiagnosed or poorly managed, can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, limb amputation, depression, anxiety or blindness.
Since 2019, Gomeroi man and exercise physiologist, Ray Kelly, has partnered with the Western Sydney Primary Health Network and the Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation to deliver his 10-week program, Too Deadly for Diabetes. The program supports members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community from the Mount Druitt area with, or at risk of developing, type 2 diabetes.
Historically, type 2 diabetes was considered a progressive disease, with patient health deteriorating over time. Too Deadly for Diabetes has been challenging and reversing this trend. Participants are provided with a meal plan, exercise program and education about how to overcome obstacles to losing weight. They also receive daily motivational videos to help them start their day well and face-to-face support along the way.
The combination of diet, exercise, education, regular motivational and humorous SMS messages and YouTube clips have achieved great results for course participants. After attending the 10-week program people are achieving a weight loss of between 12-17kgs and learning important skills to maintain that loss.
Weight loss can make a significant difference for people with diabetes as it helps improve their overall health as well as minimising diabetic risk factors. Within the first two weeks on the program people frequently see dramatic changes to their blood sugar and blood pressure levels and are then able to reduce their medication. People often comment that the things they valued the most from the program were the sense of belonging and the feeling of optimism and empowerment about their ability to improve their health. Extended families also benefited from the nutritious, tasty and cost-effective meals that participants prepared as part of the program.
Referring Community Members
It is crucial that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members are connected to culturally appropriate programs that empower them to reduce their risk of chronic health conditions. If you are supporting community members that could benefit from the program, they can reach out to Ray Kelly directly: ray@raykellyfitness.com.au
More information is available on the Too Deadly for Diabetes website. You can also watch the SBS series, Australia’s Health Revolution with Michael Mosely where he talks with Ray Kelly about reversing the diabetes epidemic.
Case Studies
Michelle enrolled in the Too Deadly for Diabetes program after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes. The medication she was taking for her depression had caused weight gain and she also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which made breathing during exercise more difficult. Since finishing the program, Michelle has maintained the 20kg lost during the program, reducing her weight from 86kg to 66kg. Her blood sugars are now normal, and her ability to exercise has improved. She says she now has the skills to take care of her health.
Joe and Kim joined the program after hearing how much it had improved the health of their families in remote NSW. Both had a very strong family history of type 2 diabetes and heart disease and had concerns that they would suffer the same fate. Two years on, they both still weigh less than when they started the program. Joe had the greatest health issues but has seen the medications for high blood pressure halved and his diabetes medication reduced as well. They report that the secret to their long-term success is keeping each other accountable.
As a community-based program, Too Deadly for Diabetes has played an integral role in educating and empowering the Aboriginal community to make successful long-term lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of diabetes-related illnesses and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
[i]ABS (2020), Causes of Death, Australia, Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release#leading-causes-of-death-in-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people
This information is correct at the time of publishing on 28 April 2022.