news
Helps to Know
Your Bones
Osteoporosis Australia sets
goal of reducing fractures
with risk-assessment tool
A
ustralian adults can now assess
their bone fracture risk using a
tool that aims to address figures
showing there will be a new broken bone
in Australia every 3.4 minutes.
The Osteoporosis Australia data also
found that more than 155,000 fractures
will occur Australia-wide this year.
Osteoporosis Australia chief executive Dr
Greg Lyubomirsky said Australians should
regard these new fracture figures as a
public health warning.
“Two-thirds of Australians aged 50
and above have poor bone health and
many don’t know it, even when they have
obvious risk factors, or have experienced
a previous fracture,” Lyubomirsky said.
“Unfortunately, only about 20 per cent of
those women who sustain a fracture and
go to hospital are either treated or properly
investigated for osteoporosis. Even fewer
men are followed up on appropriately.”
The not-for-profit organisation has
partnered with Garvan Institute of Medical
Research to launch the Know Your Bones
online tool, designed to help consumers
understand their bone fracture risk and
follow up with a GP.
The tool summarises bone fracture risk
by assessing age, gender, weight, history
of fracture, bone mineral density and
history of falls and lifestyle factors within
the previous 12 months. Users will also
have access to a simple summary of their
fracture risk, which they can take to their
GP for further discussion.
Professor Jacqueline Center, from the
Garvan Institute for Medical Research, said
No-stick
testing for
diabetics
System uses sensor
for regular blood
glucose checks that
are quick, painless.
A
ustralian adults with diabetes
now have the option of using a
blood glucose monitoring device
that eliminates the need for routine
finger pricks.
The system, which has been available in
Europe for years, involves a small sensor
worn on the back of the arm for up to
14 days and a reader that scans for blood
glucose readings day and night.
The Abbott FreeStyle Libre Flash
8
agedcareinsite.com.au
Glucose Monitoring System gives a
reading in less than a second, as well as
showing an eight-hour history and an
arrow showing the direction glucose
is heading.
The device will make life easier for
people living with diabetes, whether type
1 or type 2, who use insulin, Diabetes
Australia spokesperson Renza Scibilia said.
“It takes away the need to prick your
finger to check what your blood glucose
the Know Your Bones project is based on
research from the 26-year-long Dubbo
Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study, led
by researchers from the institute’s bone
biology division.
“The Dubbo study has confirmed that
both men and women are affected by
osteoporosis, and that bone loss continues
in older age,” Center said. “The study has
also revealed that once you fracture a bone
as a result of poor bone health, the risk of
breaking another bone doubles in women,
and increases three-to-four fold in men.
Furthermore, there is a strong link between
all major fractures and premature death.
“This study has allowed us to understand
a person’s risk of fracture based on a
combination of factors, which we have
incorporated into the Know Your Bones
self-assessment tool.”
The federal minister for health, Sussan
Ley, said the tool was a great example of
how medical research could be translated
into a real community benefit, allowing
anyone to better understand their own
risk of fractures.
“I encourage all adults to take a few
minutes out of one day, jump online
and complete the Know Your Bones
assessment,” Ley said. ■
To access the Know Your Bones tool, go
to: knowyourbones.org.au
is,” Scibilia said. “That’s really intrusive
when it comes to what people are doing
throughout the day. People are checking
their blood sugar four, six, 10, 12 times a
day … that takes some time.”
The disposable, water-resistant sensor
lasts 14 days and costs $95, while the
reader is the same price.
“I think when there is an expense
involved, it will be a barrier for some
people,” Scibilia said. “This is the next step
in diabetes technology and we always
support anything that does make living
with diabetes more convenient for people.”
Professor Stephen Twigg, head of the
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital department of
endocrinology, said the technology offers
a highly convenient, painless way to get
more frequent glucose readings.
“It enables detailed, actionable glucose
profiles that will support people with
diabetes across their day, and also
encourages a more productive discussion
between the patient and their healthcare
professional,” Twigg said. ■
AAP