Families across Western Australia have received a powerful new tool to manage type 1 diabetes, with the launch of a revolutionary mobile app developed at Perth Children's Hospital.
Marking World Diabetes Day, the Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre, operating from The Kids Research Institute Australia, unveiled the DiabHQ Patient Portal. This first-of-its-kind technology promises to significantly ease the daily burden for the more than 1200 children in WA living with type 1 diabetes and the 150 new cases diagnosed each year.
A Central Hub for Diabetes Care
The innovative app consolidates a patient's critical health information into a single, accessible platform. It brings together clinical records, pathology results, continuous glucose level data, and upcoming appointment details. Furthermore, it provides essential educational resources on managing the condition through nutrition and calculating correct insulin dosages.
For families like the Johnstons, this centralisation is a game-changer. Jack Johnston, now 11, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just seven years old. His mother, Danae Johnston, recalls the overwhelming shock and the immense pressure to learn how to keep her son healthy.
"You just get handed a file and you're thinking, I've just got the shock of a lifetime and now I have to learn all of this stuff to keep my child alive," Ms Johnston said. "I'm basically on survival mode 24/7—I'm switched on all the time for his diabetes management even when I'm at work."
Easing the Mental Load for Carers
Ms Johnston explains that the new app directly addresses this constant anxiety. "The app takes that mental load off the carers and the person with diabetes," she stated. "It has resources that help with the management of nutrition and insulin, and it has all of his health data as well to keep track of his progress."
This immediate access to information means families are no longer waiting months for a clinic appointment to address emerging issues. They can monitor trends, see if their management is on target, and identify areas needing attention in real-time.
Professor Liz Davis, Director of the Rio Tinto Children's Diabetes Centre and head of diabetes and endocrinology at Perth Children's Hospital, emphasised how exhausting life with type 1 diabetes can be. She confirmed the app is designed to alleviate some of that strain.
"Diabetes generates an enormous amount of data, including readings from glucose sensors and insulin pumps, and this can be overwhelming," Professor Davis said. "The DiabHQ Patient Portal will help families to make sense of the data and make decisions that lead to the best outcome for their child. Our goal is for these families to live happy, healthy lives."
Benefits for Clinicians and Future Research
The app's impact extends beyond the home. Professor Davis highlighted that the portal will also allow clinicians to quickly understand their patients' needs during consultations. Additionally, it will streamline medical research by enabling faster recruitment of patients for clinical trials and providing researchers with efficient access to anonymised health data.
The development and launch of the DiabHQ Patient Portal were made possible through significant support from The Perron Institute and Rio Tinto, marking a major advancement in paediatric healthcare within Western Australia.
