1. Ask The Right Questions At Your Next Appointment

Your doctor will explain your diagnosis and what it means for you. To get the most out of your next appointment, ask:

• • What type of diabetes do I have?
• • Do I need insulin or other medication now?
• • Should I check my blood glucose at home?
• • What numbers should I aim for?
• • What symptoms mean I need urgent help?
• • Who should I call if I am worried?

2. Register With The NDSS

The National Diabetes Services Scheme, or NDSS, is free for eligible people diagnosed with diabetes in Australia. Registration gives you access to diabetes information, support services, programs, and subsidised diabetes products⁵.

You can ask your health professional to help you register. You can also call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700 for information about diabetes, NDSS products, services, and programs⁶.

3. Build Your Diabetes Healthcare Team

You do not need to manage diabetes alone. Your healthcare team may include your GP, diabetes educator, dietitian, endocrinologist, pharmacist, exercise physiologist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, podiatrist, psychologist, or social worker⁷.

Different people in your team can help with different parts of care, including medication, food, movement, blood glucose monitoring, eye checks, foot care, emotional wellbeing, and long-term health planning.

4. Learn The Basics One Step At A Time

Start with the essentials:

• • what your type of diabetes means
• • what your medication or insulin does
• • what to do if your blood glucose is too high or too low
• • how food, movement, stress, sleep, illness, and alcohol can affect diabetes
• • when to book regular checks for eyes, feet, kidneys, blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart health

Our guides are a good place to begin, whether you have type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or a less common form such as LADA, MODY or type 3c diabetes.

The diabetes annual cycle of care is a useful checklist for reviewing your diabetes management and finding health problems early⁸. When you are ready, our diabetes-friendly recipes can help with everyday meals.

5. Get Practical Education And Support

NDSS diabetes programs are available online and face to face. They can help you understand diabetes management, food and nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and diabetes technology⁹.

You may also find peer support helpful. Talking with people who understand diabetes can make the first weeks feel less isolating¹.

What should I do first after being diagnosed with diabetes?

Start with the steps that matter most: know when to get urgent help, ask the right questions at your next appointment, register with the NDSS, and book the right follow-up care. You do not need to learn everything today.

When should someone with diabetes get urgent medical help?

Call triple zero 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you are vomiting or cannot keep fluids down, feel drowsy, confused, very weak or short of breath, your breath smells fruity, you have abdominal pain with very high blood glucose, or you have positive urine or blood ketones. These can be signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, which needs urgent medical care.

What is the NDSS and how do I register?

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is free for eligible people diagnosed with diabetes in Australia. Registration gives you access to diabetes information, support services, programs and subsidised diabetes products. Your health professional can help you register, or you can call the NDSS Helpline on 1800 637 700.

Who should be in my diabetes healthcare team?

Your healthcare team may include your GP, diabetes educator, dietitian, endocrinologist, pharmacist, exercise physiologist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, podiatrist, psychologist or social worker. Different people in your healthcare team can help you manage your medication, diabetes technology, diet, exercise, blood glucose monitoring, eye checks, foot care, metabolic health, emotional wellbeing and long-term health planning.

What is the diabetes annual cycle of care?

The diabetes annual cycle of care is a checklist for reviewing your diabetes management and finding health problems early. It includes regular checks for eyes, feet, kidneys, blood pressure, cholesterol and heart health.

What questions should I ask at my next appointment?

Ask: What type of diabetes do I have? Do I need insulin or other medication now? Should I check my blood glucose at home? What numbers should I aim for? What symptoms mean I need urgent help? Who should I call if I am worried?