Sydney residents living with type 2 diabetes are being encouraged to participate in ELIA Lifestyle Medicine Centre’s (LMC) 12-week research program.
The Diabetes Clinical Program, worth $A1600, is being offered free for eligible participants.
“The ELIA 12-week Diabetes Clinical Program uses a wholistic approach to wellness using four key pillars: nutrition, movement, mindset and connectedness to help you live your best life,” South Pacific Division (SPD) health strategy leader Dr Geraldine Przybylko explained.
ELIA LMC is an interdisciplinary clinic which uses evidence-based medicine and focuses on the key pillars of lifestyle medicine. The centre was established last year at the Sydney Adventist Hospital and their purpose is to provide evidence-based lifestyle medicine consultations, programs and interventions that aim to determine and treat the root cause of chronic disease.
Comprised of lifestyle medicine physicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists, registered nurses, health coaches and psychology care, the ELIA team works to educate, coach and enable patients to live their best life and achieve their goals.
Type 2 diabetes is traditionally seen as a chronic, irreversible illness, requiring medications to slow its progression. However, centre medical director Dr Andrea Matthews explained that recent research shows that type 2 diabetes can be prevented, halted or in some cases remitted with healthy lifestyle habits.
“We have been really excited to see patients achieve some great results,” Dr Matthews said.
“Patients will always benefit from learning to move more and eat a nutrient-rich diet, but when lifestyle measures are used intensively as medicine, they are even more powerful. It’s wonderful to see patients learn to live healthier lives with less reliance on medications.
“It is also incredibly rewarding as a clinician when you see patients regain a positive mindset when it comes to their health, where they feel that they are not only in control but now have hope,” Dr Matthews added.
In addition to this program, the clinic has also started taking bookings for its 12-week Breast Cancer Clinical Program. Dr Matthews said following a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of breast cancer and improve the quality of life for patients in all stages of their journey from treatment to survivorship, according to research.
To join the research project or find out more information visit the ELIA LMC website or call (02) 9480 6140. Limited spots available.
