Help for those with type 2 diabetes is only a phone call away, thanks to a research team from UQ’s Centre for Online Health.
Researchers are currently recruiting participants from the greater Brisbane area to trial the Telephone-Linked Care (TLC) Diabetes program, a world-first interactive telephone system providing frequent and easily accessible support for those managing their diabetes.
Users phone the system from the comfort of their own home weekly to receive encouragement and feedback on their blood glucose results, healthy eating, medication or activity level.
The TLC system interviews and converses with callers via pre-recorded statements and questions and is equipped with sophisticated software which tailors its responses based on answers provided by the person at the end of the line.
Michael Burke, from Sunnybank, said he was pleased he picked up a program brochure nearly six months ago and now picks up the phone for his weekly dose of TLC.
“The program has changed my life because I now know what I have to do to live well with Type 2 diabetes,” Mr Burke said.
“The weekly feedback received during the calls to the TLC Diabetes system motivated me to make sure I walked daily and to work out how food affects my blood glucose.
“I have now lost weight and most of my blood glucose results are in the recommended range. Importantly I feel much more positive about looking after my health.”
UQ’s Centre for Online Health will next trial the program in regional and remote Queensland in a project funded by Queensland Health.
The TLC Diabetes program was developed by Monash University, Boston University, The University of Queensland, and Queensland University of Technology.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact the TLC Diabetes team on 07 3636 5506 or TLCdiabetes@coh.uq.edu.au.
For more information, please visit the TLC Diabetes project website.
Media: Dominique Bird (07 3636 5506, dbird@coh.uq.edu.au) or Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
