ACADI supports several research projects that focus on improving the detection, assessment and monitoring of diabetes and its complications.
These projects include the development and evaluation of new tools, technologies and clinical approaches that enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
The FlashGM Study investigated whether continuous glucose monitoring could improve diabetes management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with type 2 diabetes. Conducted across multiple sites throughout Australia, the study compared flash glucose monitoring with traditional finger-prick blood glucose testing over a six-month period.
With 350 participants recruited nationally, the findings are expected to inform more effective and equitable access to diabetes technologies, improve health service delivery and support better diabetes outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other high-risk populations.
Project lead: Prof Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne)
Collaborator: Coralie Cross (University of Melbourne, ADEA)
Indigenous Australians experience significantly higher rates of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications than non-Indigenous Australians. While continuous glucose monitoring technology can help people better understand and manage their glucose levels, access remains limited and cost is a significant barrier for many who could benefit from the technology.
Building on the national FlashGM Study and its established partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, healthcare providers and health services, this project evaluates the use of continuous glucose monitoring alongside routine diabetes care. The findings will help identify barriers and opportunities for implementation, guide the integration of diabetes technology into Indigenous health settings, and inform future funding and policy decisions across Australia.
Project lead: Prof Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne)
Collaborators: Mariam Hachem (University of Melbourne), Prof Leonid Churilov (University of Melbourne), Prof Jill Francis (University of Melbourne), Prof Sandra Eades (University of Melbourne), Tracey Hearn (Rumbalara Aboriginal Health Service, University of Melbourne), Belinda Moore (Rumbalara Aboriginal Health Service, University of Melbourne), Ray Kelly (University of Melbourne), Hannah Morris (Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation), Dr Zoe Williams (Austin Health), Prof David O’Neal (University of Melbourne), Diabetes Australia.
Type 2 diabetes has a significant impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, yet there are limited evidence-based lifestyle programs specifically designed for, and in consultation with, Indigenous Australians.
Dhirrabuu Maaruma-li (meaning “Excellent Healing” in Gamilaraary) investigates whether an Aboriginal-led 10-week lifestyle program, combined with flash glucose monitoring technology, can improve diabetes management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with type 2 diabetes. Delivered through Aboriginal Medical Services across Australia, the study will assess whether this culturally tailored program can improve diabetes outcomes and quality of life, while providing evidence to support broader implementation in Indigenous communities.
Project lead: Ray Kelly (University of Melbourne)
Collaborators: Prof Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne), Mariam Hachem (University of Melbourne), Prof Leonid Churilov (University of Melbourne), Dr Tamara Power (University of Sydney), A/Prof Jaquelyne Hughes (Flinders University), Tracey Hearn (University of Melbourne), Belinda Moore (University of Melbourne), Hannah Morris (Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation), Dr Zoe Williams (Austin Health), Barbara Flick (University of Melbourne), Dr An Tran-Duy (University of Melbourne), A/Prof Michelle Kennedy (University of Newcastle), University of Melbourne, Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Diabetes Australia.
Diabetes management can be demanding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who often develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age. A once-weekly insulin may offer a more practical option for some people while reducing the burden of daily treatment.
Building on the FlashGM Study and its established network, this study will assess whether once-weekly insulin, called insulin icodec, combined with a continuous glucose sensor worn on the arm, can make diabetes management easier for Indigenous Australians living with type 2 diabetes while keeping glucose levels in a safe range. If successful, this approach could reshape type 2 diabetes care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by making treatment simpler and more accessible.
Project lead: Mariam Hachem (University of Melbourne)
Collaborators: Prof Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne), Tracey Hearn (University of Melbourne), Bernard Kelly-Edwards (University of Melbourne), Prof Leonid Churilov (University of Melbourne), Dr Marlena Klaic (University of Melbourne), Prof David O’Neal (University of Melbourne), Ray Kelly (University of Melbourne), Coralie Cross (University of Melbourne), Prof Chris Schilling (University of Melbourne), Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott (Deakin University), Prof Stephen Twigg (University of Sydney), Laura Zimmerman, Dr Jas-mine Seah (University of Melbourne), Prof Sean Taylor (University of Melbourne).
Effective, evidence-based diabetes care exists, yet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not always have consistent access to it in ways that reflect their priorities, traditional knowledge and practices, and cultural context. Achieving equitable access requires diabetes care that is designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and grounded in their ways of knowing, being and doing.
This project aims to transform diabetes prevention and management through the co-design of culturally safe, evidence-based care packages for Indigenous Australians, by working in partnership with individuals and their families, communities and healthcare providers. The findings will help identify practical ways to deliver effective diabetes care that is culturally safe and locally relevant, supporting self-determination and strengthening diabetes care across Australia.
Project lead: Prof Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne)
Collaborators: Dr Marlena Klaic (University of Melbourne), Prof Sean Taylor (University of Melbourne), Mariam Hachem (University of Melbourne), Prof Sandra Eades (University of Melbourne), Prof Leonid Churilov (University of Melbourne), Bernard Kelly-Edwards (University of Melbourne), Tracey Hearn (University of Melbourne), Coralie Cross (University of Melbourne), Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott (Deakin University), Prof Chris Schilling (University of Melbourne), Dr Gaurav Puri, Dr Tripti Joshi, Prof David O’Neal (University of Melbourne).