Life! Program

Program officer

Pauline Pollard, 5229 1922

Quicklinks

Program summary

Life! Taking Action on Diabetes (Life!) is an evidence based, behaviour change program that will enable 25,000 Victorians, over 50 years of age and at high risk, to substantially delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Australia - Vic is the Lead Agency for Life!

Detailed studies in America, Finland and China have consistently shown that programs which actively support behavioural change (improved nutrition and physical activity) in people with pre-diabetes, can prevent more than half of the expected progression to type 2 diabetes. Based on the success rate of 58 per cent reduced risk experienced in Finland and America, Life! has the potential to prevent up to 12,000 cases of type 2 diabetes over four years.

The intervention is based on the validated Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test (AUSDRISK); a simple, non-invasive, and reliable tool to identify individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes. The tool shows that for AUSDRISK score of 12 or more you are at high risk of developing diabetes in the next 5 years and eligible for referral into Life!

Getting your patients into Life!
People 50 years plus and Aboriginal People 18 years plus, who score 12 + on the Ausdrisk Test
All adults with a high risk condition – specifically Ischemic Heart Disease or history of Gestational Diabetes, regardless of their Ausdrisk score and age (18+)
All patients must have diabetes excluded
Referral and completed AUSDRISK sent to the Facilitator of choice.

Please note - if referring the 40-49 year old group under the Lifestyle Modification Program, GPs can claim the Health Assessment item numbers (701,703,705,707) when completing the referral form and referring into the Program

About The Program

The Life! Taking Action on Diabetes (Life!) Program aims to prevent type 2 diabetes in Victorians aged 50 years and above. The Life! course helps participants set small, achievable goals to improve their lifestyle and reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. The program reduces the number of new cases of diabetes by up to 58 percent in course participants. Through the Life! course, participants will be supported by trained health professionals, including a dietitian and a physiotherapist/exercise physiologist, to improve their nutrition and increase physical activity.

The six session course takes place over eight months to allow participants to put their new skills into practice. The first five sessions take place fortnightly, with the last session taking place eight months after the first. Each participant must have type 2 diabetes, excluded before they take part in a Life! course.

To find patients suitable for the Life program, practices can do a search in MD or by using the PEN Clinical Audit Tool.