After nearly 5 years, the last of our group of 20 amazing young people, who started with us back in 2020 when they were between the ages of 15 and 18, have graduated from this programme. To participate the young people had to have either diabetes or pre-diabetes, and they committed to came along on a multi-year health journey as part of the Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa/Middlemore Hospital collaboration officially called "the Adolescent Bariatric project". More information here. From our organisation, Dr John Baker (Diabetes Specialist), Kate Smallman (Clinical Director/Nurse Practitioner/Researcher), Trish Harry (Health Promoter/Research Assistant) and Diana Anderson (Registered Nutritionist/Accredited Optifast Provider/Researcher) have worked closely with this group since early 2020 and shared highs and lows, and ultimately farewelled each young adult off into their own worlds.
Kate Smallman has presented things we have learned at conferences over the years, this information having been gathered from the many inspiring and challenging stories. Now however, the active part of the project is complete, the data has been collected and compiled, and detailed analysis is underway by PhD candidate Kanchana Perera.
Our heartfelt acknowledgements and appreciation is expressed to:
the participants
the whanau and supporters of the participants
our team (as above) for whom it was NOT just a Monday-Friday working hours job
our Board of Trustees who were behind the project 100%
those who helped with the recruitment
Middlemore hospital, including Dr Brandon Orr-Walker, and Dr Richard Babor and the Bariatric Team
Specialist advisors who came on board with valuable advice and support when needed
Funding from the Potter Trust (Freemason Foundation) and Perpetual Guardian Trust
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