National Medicines Symposium 2025 – Afternoon session

'Quality use of medicines in people with diabetes’

This session featured practical strategies for improving diabetes care during key transition periods and explored considerations for managing diabetes medicines across different populations. It highlighted the voices of people with lived experience and emphasised how non-pharmacological strategies can enhance the quality use of medicines for people living with diabetes. The session also discussed challenges and opportunities in improving diabetes care through the use of continuous glucose monitoring, apps and insulin pumps.

Hosted by Professor Andrew McLachlan AM, Head of School and Dean of Sydney Pharmacy School at The University of Sydney with keynote speakers and panellists that included:
Associate Professor Spiros Fourlanos, Head of Diabetes and Endocrinology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Associate Professor Glynis Ross, Visiting Medical Officer in Endocrinology and Lead Endocrinologist of Diabetes in Pregnancy Service, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Professor Alicia Jenkins, Head of Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Dr Michael Hancock, Endocrinologist, Living Diabetes & Endocrinology and Royal Perth Hospital
Dr Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, Medical Advisor, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and General Practitioner
Professor Jennifer Martin, Physician, Clinical Pharmacologist and President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Ms Rachel Hicks, PhD Candidate and Research Assistant, Western Sydney University
Mrs Salā Ronda Thompson, Lead Community Activator and Research Assistant, Western Sydney University
Dr Robyn Barnes, Senior Diabetes Dietitian and District Diabetes Coordinator, South Western Sydney Local Health District
Dr Casey Peiris, Head of Allied Health Research and Director of Academic and Research Collaborative in Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and La Trobe University
Ms Sarah Lam, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Bankstown Hospital Diabetes Centre
Associate Professor Shane Hamblin, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Western Health, Melbourne
Dr Lee Fong, Medical Advisor, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and General Practitioner
Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO, Board Chair, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care


[00:00:27] – Diabetes management during and after hospital
[00:12:03] – Diabetes management during pregnancy
[00:26:40] – Management of diabetes during transition of care from paediatrics to adulthood
[00:39:12] – Panel discussion: Diabetes management during transitions of care
[01:10:04] – Pharmacological considerations for diabetes medicines in specific patient populations
[01:28:14] – Living with diabetes: Empowering self- management
[01:38:30] – Challenges of diabetes management from a carer’s perspective
[01:52:11] – Food is medicine – Medical Nutrition Therapy for diabetes management
[02:04:37] – Exercise for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes
[02:16:49] – Optimising diabetes care by addressing and supporting psychological health
[02:27:00] – Panel discussion: Diabetes technology – continuous glucose monitors (CGM), apps and insulin pumps
[02:51:16] – Closing address
[02:53:43] – Close with facilitator

For more information visit https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/N...