A Few Words
About Us
Background
A Passion To Help
The skills, training, and experience to assist people live a better life with diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is a health condition. Specifically, it is a hormone problem and like any other hormone problem, it needs to be managed well in order for a person to stay healthy.
As a qualified and experienced Diabetes Educator and Registered Nurse, Deanne Tate, founder of Diabetes Support Queensland, has a passion for assisting people to live a better life with diabetes. A member of the Australian Diabetes Educator Association (ADEA), she is also registered as a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE).
For the past 10 years, Deanne has made it her mission to give people the tools to live well with diabetes. She has a special interest in assisting people who need a support person or care-provider. This may be someone living with a disability or cognitive impairment. People who are not able to effectively manage their diabetes or are going to hospital due to complications with diabetes need support to identify why. Why are they having issues with their diabetes? What are the areas where they need support?
Deanne’s qualification Certificate IV in Training and Assessment gives her the skills and knowledge to effectively plan, design, deliver and assess diabetes training sessions. She has extensive experience in delivering group training sessions to people living with diabetes as well as service providers and support workers.
Deanne's Qualifications
- Registered Nurse
- Credentialled Diabetes Educator
- Master of Advanced Nursing Majoring in Education
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Diabetes Support Queensland
How DSQ Started
There is a real need for diabetes support that goes beyond the usual clinic setting
The idea for DSQ came about because Deanne saw the need in the community for providing diabetes education and training to people who struggle to access diabetes support services for any number of reasons. This may be because they don’t live near a diabetes service, or can’t access one, or don’t think they need to. Hospital outpatient lists are long, access to a Diabetes Educator is limited and people need to have assistance with managing their diabetes in a timely manner. It would be hugely beneficial if the number of times someone goes to hospital due to diabetes is reduced.
There is a gap in the provision of diabetes services and the needs of consumers. At DSQ, we have witnessed the ever-growing demand to provide support to those living with diabetes and their care-givers in the community outside of the usual clinic setting.
Our Goals
The DSQ Mission
Empowering people through education and support to live well with diabetes
Often people with complex health conditions struggle to handle their health needs and the day-to-day tasks that come with them. Many factors contribute to this, however there are times when just a slight shift in how diabetes is managed can make a huge difference overall.
At DSQ, our mission is to provide diabetes education, support and management to people living with diabetes and/or their care givers. Through knowledge, support and strategies, we know that people have the ability to live well with diabetes. We have witnessed how people can live a long and healthy life with diabetes mellitus once they have the knowledge and support they need. We have also seen the devastating impact that poorly managed diabetes can have on someone’s health and know that it doesn’t need to be that way. DSQ can put you on a path to improve your health and link you to other team members, such as GP’s, to further assist you.
At DSQ Our Goals Are To:
- Demystify – the condition called Diabetes Mellitus
- De-stress – support and education provided to give solutions, make individual goals and make an action plan
- Deliver – person-centred diabetes management plans.
We Can Help
Navigating the NDIS
Diabetes is a condition that you can be in control of, instead of it controlling you – Access to holistic diabetes care to empower people to live well with diabetes
Deanne Tate, founder of Diabetes Support Queensland shares her experience: “I have had a lifetime of advocating for people with a disability. Having two uncles who were born with Fragile X syndrome has given me real-world experience of living with a disability. I have seen the importance of quality care provision.”
Because of this, her passion is to improve the lives of people living with a disability. That is why DSQ firstly offers to educate the person with diabetes and secondly, if necessary, to train the caregivers. Providing holistic care includes looking after their health needs when they cannot.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an area in which DSQ can offer its expertise. The system can be confusing and overwhelming for someone with diabetes. DSQ is here to help you.
At DSQ we will support you with:
- Diabetes assessments
- Reports
- NDIS plan reviews
DSQ will assist you to navigate your way through the maze, advocate for you to achieve the supports you require and help you to come out the other side empowered and in control of your diabetes.
