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Diabetes | Counties Manukau

Public Service, Endocrinology

Description

What is Diabetes ? 
Diabetes is a disease in which the amount of glucose (sugars) in the blood is too high. This occurs when the body does not produce enough of, or cannot properly use, the hormone insulin. Insulin enables glucose from the blood to enter cells which use it for energy.
 
Type I diabetes: can occur in children and adults and happens when the body attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Eventually no insulin or very little insulin is produced.
 
Type II diabetes: is the most common form of diabetes and is usually found in adults but is occurring in younger people, even in some children.  It occurs when the body is not making enough insulin or when the body's cells become resistant to insulin and the insulin produced is ineffective.
 
Healthcare professionals involved in the management of diabetes include:
 
  • diabetes specialists or diabetologists - doctors who are specialised in diabetes care
  • diabetes nurse specialists (DNS)
  • dietitians
  • podiatrists
  • health psychologists

 

Diabetes Services Provided by Counties Manukau Health
Diabetes clinics are held at multiple locations as shown below.

Consultants

Note: Please note below that some people are not available at all locations.

  • Dr John Baker

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Pui-Ling Chan

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Ajith Dissanayake

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Jovina Goh

    Endocrinologist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr John Griffiths

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Joey Yeoh

    Endocrinologist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Renate Koops

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Diana McNeill

    Endocrinologist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Professor Rinki Murphy

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Brandon Orr-Walker

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

  • Dr Zaven Panossian

    Diabetes Specialist

    Available at Māngere Health Centre, 6 Waddon Place, Māngere, Auckland, Ōtara Hub, 112 Bairds Road, Ōtara, Auckland

Referral Expectations

Your referral to the diabetes clinic will be prioritised (given a position on a list of other referrals) depending on how severe your diabetes is. You may be asked to undergo some tests or fill in a questionnaire before seeing the health professional in the clinic.

You will see a diabetes nurse specialist at your appointment who you may continue to see for ongoing help with the management of your diabetes.  You may see other specialists who are part of the diabetes team such as a specialist doctor who may be a registrar (a doctor training to become a specialist who works under the supervision of a specialist). You may also see a dietitian, health psychologist or a podiatrist.  
You may be seen on a 1:1 basis or be invited to come to group education.

You may have ongoing follow-up in the clinic or have your treatment carried out by your GP with advice from the specialist. 

Other clinics are held at the following locations:

Manukau SuperClinic™ (ph: 09 277 1613)

  • Clinics are held here on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  


Botany SuperClinic™
  (ph: 09 277 1660) 

  • Clinics are held here every Monday. 


Pukekohe Hospital (ph: 09 238 8072)

  • Clinics are held here every Tuesday 


Māngere Health Centre
6 Waddon Place, Māngere
Ph (09) 255 0610

  • Clinics are held here every Monday and Friday


Ōtara Clinic
112 Bairds Road
Ōtara
Auckland 2023

  • Clinics are held here every Tuesday and Thuursday 


Check with your local GP if they offer a clinic.

Middlemore Hospital
Whitiora Diabetes is an administrative office only. Patients are generally not seen here. 

Fees and Charges Description

There are no charges for services to public patients if you are lawfully in New Zealand and meet one of the Eligibility Directions specified criteria set by the Ministry of Health.  If you do not meet the criteria, you will be required to pay for the full costs of any medical treatment you receive during your stay.

To check whether you meet the specified eligibility criteria, visit the Ministry of Health website.

For any applicable charges, please phone the Accounts Receivable Office on (09) 276 0060.

Hours

Manukau SuperClinic™

Clinics are held here on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Common Conditions

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus)

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body deals with sugar. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin which is a hormone produced by the pancreas (an organ that lies near your stomach). Depending on the type of diabetes you have, you may be required to use medications or insulin replacement injections. You will also be advised to make changes to your lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis and if overweight, losing weight. Patients with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood. Lowering the blood sugar is important for the prevention of serious complications. Some indications that you may have diabetes include: change in your weight feeling thirsty excessive passing of urine blurred vision slow healing of sores tingling in hands and feet. If you experience any of these symptoms please see your doctor. In most people there are hardly any symptoms early in the disease. You are more likely to develop diabetes if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. Tests There are two types of tests in diabetes. Some are to diagnose if you have the condition and others are to monitor your treatment and manage the disease to prevent complications. Diagnosis testing The first test you will have had is a blood glucose (sugar) test. This is most sensitive if it is taken when you have an empty stomach so is usually done first thing in the morning, before breakfast. If there is some question as to whether or not you have diabetes you will have a glucose tolerance test. For this test you have a blood test, then drink a very sweet drink and 2 hours later have another blood test. Monitoring testing Finger prick test. A very quick test where your finger is pricked, a drop of blood is collected on a strip and examined by a small hand-held machine. It takes less than a minute to do. Depending on the type of diabetes you have, you may have one of these machines at home and do your own test a few times a week or day. Glycosylated haemoglobin test (HbA1c). This is a test that is used to keep track of how your diabetes has being managed over the last 2 to 3 months. You might have 2 to 4 of these tests a year arranged by your doctor or diabetes nurse. Other tests Because diabetes can affect many other organs you will, over time, have other blood and urine tests as well as tests for your heart and eyes. Treatment Diabetes is treated with a combination of diet, exercise and medications. You may also be referred to a: dietitian, to advise you on healthy eating podiatrist, for foot care dentist, to ensure your gums and teeth are well maintained nurse, to help with day-to-day management of your diabetes ophthalmologist, to monitor your eyes. The amount of sugar in the blood varies throughout the day but normally remains within a narrow range (usually 4 – 6 mmol/L). Even with medication it tends to be slightly higher in people with diabetes but you will learn what level is your best target. You will receive lots of information about what you can do to manage your diabetes when, and after, you attend the clinic. For more information about Diabetes, including an overview, pamphlets, medication and more, please visit Health Navigator.

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way your body deals with sugar.  The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin which is a hormone produced by the pancreas (an organ that lies near your stomach).
 
Depending on the type of diabetes you have, you may be required to use medications or insulin replacement injections. You will also be advised to make changes to your lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis and if overweight, losing weight.
 
Patients with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood. Lowering the blood sugar is important for the prevention of serious complications.

Some indications that you may have diabetes include:

  • change in your weight
  • feeling thirsty
  • excessive passing of urine
  • blurred vision
  • slow healing of sores
  • tingling in hands and feet.
 
If you experience any of these symptoms please see your doctor. In most people there are hardly any symptoms early in the disease.  You are more likely to develop diabetes if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.
 
Tests
There are two types of tests in diabetes.  Some are to diagnose if you have the condition and others are to monitor your treatment and manage the disease to prevent complications.
 
Diagnosis testing
The first test you will have had is a blood glucose (sugar) test.  This is most sensitive if it is taken when you have an empty stomach so is usually done first thing in the morning, before breakfast.
If there is some question as to whether or not you have diabetes you will have a glucose tolerance test.  For this test you have a blood test, then drink a very sweet drink and 2 hours later have another blood test.
 
Monitoring testing
Finger prick test.  A very quick test where your finger is pricked, a drop of blood is collected on a strip and examined by a small hand-held machine. It takes less than a minute to do.  Depending on the type of diabetes you have, you may have one of these machines at home and do your own test a few times a week or day.
 
Glycosylated haemoglobin test (HbA1c). This is a test that is used to keep track of how your diabetes has being managed over the last 2 to 3 months. You might have 2 to 4 of these tests a year arranged by your doctor or diabetes nurse.
 
Other tests
Because diabetes can affect many other organs you will, over time, have other blood and urine tests as well as tests for your heart and eyes.
 
Treatment
Diabetes is treated with a combination of diet, exercise and medications. You may also be referred to a:
  • dietitian, to advise you on healthy eating
  • podiatrist, for foot care
  • dentist, to ensure your gums and teeth are well maintained
  • nurse, to help with day-to-day management of your diabetes
  • ophthalmologist, to monitor your eyes.
 
The amount of sugar in the blood varies throughout the day but normally remains within a narrow range (usually 4 – 6 mmol/L).  Even with medication it tends to be slightly higher in people with diabetes but you will learn what level is your best target.
 
You will receive lots of information about what you can do to manage your diabetes when, and after, you attend the clinic.

For more information about Diabetes, including an overview, pamphlets, medication and more, please visit Health Navigator.

Green Prescriptions

Green Prescription is an evidence-based programme that supports patients to engage in appropriate physical activity as they move towards a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. It is particularly aimed at people who are at risk of developing, or have, diabetes. It is available for people 18 years and older who are currently inactive. You can find out more about what Green Prescription has to offer on the Ministry of Health website Your family doctor (GP) or your hospital based specialist care team can refer you to Green Prescription.

Green Prescription is an evidence-based programme that supports patients to engage in appropriate physical activity as they move towards a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. It is particularly aimed at people who are at risk of developing, or have, diabetes.  It is available for people 18 years and older who are currently inactive.

You can find out more about what Green Prescription has to offer on the Ministry of Health website

Your family doctor (GP) or your hospital based specialist care team can refer you to Green Prescription.

Contact Details

Manukau SuperClinic™

South Auckland

901 Great South Road
Hillpark
Manurewa
Auckland 2104

Information about this location

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Get directions

Street Address

901 Great South Road
Hillpark
Manurewa
Auckland 2104

Postal Address

Private Bag 93311
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland 1640

This page was last updated at 11:38AM on June 21, 2023. This information is reviewed and edited by Diabetes | Counties Manukau.