You may have seen people wearing a small white disk on their upper arm. It's likely it was a "CGM" or continuous glucose monitoring device.

In Australia, only people with type 1 diabetes can access subsidies for these devices, but there is hope this may be extended in the future.

Research comparing the use of these devices, with self-monitoring of glucose levels, strengthens the case for use of CGM devices for people living with type 2 diabetes.

Guest/s

• Associate Prof Emma Wilmot, University of Nottingham School of Medicine 

References

• Continuous glucose monitoring versus self-monitoring of blood glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, multicentre, open-label, superiority trial
• Diabetes Australia statement

There is now clear evidence that having high blood pressure as a child can influence health outcomes later in life.

The first ever Australian clinical guidelines on this condition recommend a check of blood pressure at age 7 and again during adolescence.  

Guest/s

• Nick Larkins, paediatric nephrologist, Perth Children's Hospital and Senior Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University 

References

• Australian Guideline for the Identification and Management of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

In the news:

• The same team who developed the first vaccine against COVID-19 have come up with a vaccine for the new strain of Ebola in only eight weeks.
• A report from the Grattan Institute calls for a shake-up of community pharmacy funding
• US Department of War head Pete Hegseth announces plans for testosterone screening for military

References

• UK begins trials of Ebola vaccine developed in just eight weeks
• Future pharmacy: A better deal for patients and taxpayers
• Pete Hegseth announces plan to test US troops for low testosterone

There's a race going on in Silicon Valley to find ways to both slow down ageing and monetise longevity.

Some of the tools used to measure this are biological age tests that give various health readings. 

For an episode of Four Corners, Norman Swan visited one of the team who developed an evidence-based clock called DunedinPACE.

Guest/s

• Dan Belsky, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University 

References

• Four Corners: The Race to Reverse Aging

How acne is treated depends on severity, but those affected can worry about the side-effects of medications that are taken orally. 

A study into the use of isotretinoin for acne in adolescents found no association with reduced adult height. 

Guest/s

• Sigrun Schmidt, Medical Doctor and PhD, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark 

References

• Isotretinoin Treatment in Adolescence and Adult Height

A newly updated human-infective RNA virus dataset may be used to find patterns that help predict what a future virus, or ‘disease x’ might look like. 

What can we learn from the behaviour of past viruses, to help prepare for the next outbreak? 

Guest/s

• Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh 

References

• A complete catalogue of human-infective RNA viruses

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

In the news this week:

• Research commissioned by the RACGP shows limited evidence for benefits of community pharmacists prescribing drug treatments for around 20 common and minor conditions
• A law change means registered nurses will soon be able to prescribe some PBS medicines
• A US study shows disparities in cancer screening rates for LGBTI+ populations, what's happening here in Australia?
• Australian cancer trials not following regulations on reporting sex differences

References

• Community pharmacist prescribing outcomes in Australia and beyond
• Pharmacist prescribing: without evidence, it's the patient who pays
• RACGP-commissioned review confirms pharmacist prescribing improves access to care
• New law gives registered nurses PBS prescribing rights for the first time
• Sexual orientation and gender identity based disparities in colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening in the United States
• US study on cancer screening access and what it means for AustraliaUSyd CEC response
• Australian cancer trials are getting worse at reporting sex differences - putting patients at risk

The AIHW's Australia's Health 2026 report shows that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, rising by 39 percent over the past decade and overtaking coronary heart disease.

Guest/s

• Michelle Gourley, Head, Burden of Disease and Mortality Unit, Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing  

References

• Australia's health 2026 (AIHW)