The 2008 National Diabetes Prevention Programme represents the greatest missed opportunity we’ve had in recent times but is also something we can learn from, this year’s recipient of the Kellion Award told delegates.

Professor Stephen Colagiuri said the programme targeted 150,000 people, recruited 5,500 individuals of whom only 1,600 attended. It was subsequently discontinued in 2011.

“This represents the greatest missed opportunity we’ve had in recent times,” said Professor Colagiuri.

But he said it also gives us two key learnings: there was no implementation plan to support the programme; and the fears of government and health administrators that the system will be overwhelmed with people wanting to participate was totally unfounded.

“It is really difficult to get people to participate in prevention programmes,” he said.

“We’re trying to resurrect this not only through the National Diabetes Strategy but also through the NHMRC which has adopted the prevention of diabetes as a ‘case for action’,” he told delegates.

Last week the two co-chairs of the National Diabetes strategy presented the draft strategy document to the Minister.

However it isn’t the National Diabetes Strategy but is the advice to government on its development, he stressed.

It will now go to the Council of Australian Governments for consideration, with the end goal being a National Diabetes Strategy for 2016-2020.

The strategy contains a number of good practical achievable recommendations but it also doesn’t have an implementation plan – yet, said Colagiuri.

“It is very easy to conclude that it’s like déjà vu all over again but I’m really optimistic that will not be the case this time around,” he said.

“And if that’s not the case we need every single one of you to support it,” he said.

“As individuals we do a very good job but we also need a supportive environment for us to do our jobs to the best of our abilities”.

“The National Diabetes Strategy is actually the bridge between our individual effort and creating the supportive environment.

So I urge you all once its released to get behind it and to use it and promote it in your health services because you shouldn’t leave it up to somebody else – we need all of you,” he added