Sports club eliminates soft drinks for research into the prevention of type 2 diabetes in children

A North Queensland country sports club has axed serving soft drinks in a community-led effort to prevent type 2 diabetes among Indigenous young people.

The Garbutt Magpies Sporting Association, which organizes AFL, cricket and netball in Townsville, has switched to serving only water alongside healthy food during its Friday evening activities for local children.

Older people and researchers have collaborated on an innovative pilot project for a $50,000 culturally responsive type 2 diabetes prevention program through James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital.

They reported that there was high engagement in the six-month study and that the children did not miss any sugary drinks.

A native boy and girl play cricket at night — Garbutt Magpies cricketers Belford Larry and Makalya Poynter took part. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

Taking ownership of community health care

Club members such as local mother Leah Wacando measured the height, weight and blood pressure of more than 50 children who regularly participate in activities.

“Since June we have noticed that some children have grown, some have lost weight. There have been changes in some children since we started, which has been really good,” she said.

‘Their condition has improved.

“Some who didn’t really want to go outside much are now a little more active.”

Two women, one light-skinned, one dark-skinned, in Garbutt Magpies shirts, one holding barbecue tongs — Carissa Welsh and Leah Wacando are working to implement a diabetes prevention study at the club. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

What is diabetes?

When someone has diabetes, their body cannot maintain healthy glucose levels in the blood. Glucose is a form of sugar.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin converts glucose into energy. There is no cure and it cannot be prevented.
In type 2 diabetes the body is becoming resistant to the normal effects of insulin and gradually loses the ability to produce sufficient insulin in the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes has strong genetic risk factors and is also associated with lifestyle factors.
People can significantly slow or even stop the progression of type 2 diabetes through changes in their diet and increased physical activity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are almost four times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Source: Diabetes Australia

A dark-skinned woman wearing a Garbutt Mapgies T-shirt preparing a barbecue. — Leah Wacando prepares a meal during the diabetes examination. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

Ms Wacando said her partner’s family had a history of type 2 diabetes, and working for the study had also encouraged her to serve healthier food at home.

‘Some nights we just don’t eat rice and just have salad. The kids used to whine, but now they’re used to it,” she said.

Nice Friday evenings

The focus was on encouraging physical activity, serving fresh food and educating participants about healthy eating.

But for 10-year-olds Ashleigha Massey and Makayla Poynter, the focus on Friday night was on fun and exercise, not research.

Makayla said she didn’t mind the switch to water because she noticed her aunt had diabetes.

“We don’t want our teeth to turn yellow and we want to stay healthy,” she said.

“We have fresh sandwiches, and steak and lettuce and tomatoes. It’s nice.”

A native man laughs, there is a light glow in the background — Garbutt Magpies chairman Randal Ross says diabetes prevention is a key concern for the community. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

Garbutt Magpies chairman Randal Ross said the high level of involvement in the research was promising.

“You can see how the kids have adapted to water, to drinking a lot more water instead of soda,” he said.

“Now they’re looking for the water instead of the soda.”

Urgent need to prevent diabetes from childhood

Professor Usman Malabu is Head of Translational Research in Endocrinology and Diabetes at James Cook University and principal investigator of the study.

He said type 2 diabetes is 18 times more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people than in white children and can lead to life-threatening complications such as kidney failure.

A man in a business shirt and tie, standing in a hallway and smiling — Endocrinologist Usman Malabu is leading research into culturally responsive ways to prevent diabetes. (Supplied: Townsville HHS)

Consumption of an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and a lack of public health awareness were key factors leading to the higher rates of type 2 diabetes in regional and remote areas, he said.

Researchers have also said that high levels of diabetes reflect a wide range of factors, including education, income and access to services.

Professor Usman said diabetes prevention studies in indigenous communities were often difficult due to low involvement.

“Overall it failed because of a lack of engagement and empowerment of First Nations people,” he said.

But in the Garbutt Magpies research, older people, not outside experts, took the lead on healthy eating.

And club members, not doctors, were responsible for regularly collecting data on the children’s height, weight and blood pressure, Professor Malabu said.

“It’s not something that others from outside are going to come in and tell them what to do,” he said.

Three young indigenous children with a cricket bat. — Makayla Poynter, Belford Larry and Ja Qarn Poynter are all active for the Garbutt Magpies. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)

He said participation had exceeded expectations, indicating that the model of early intervention programs through a local sports club was effective.

“We are hopeful that this will be a turning point in the way we address diabetes prevention in children of First Nations people,” Professor Malabu said.

Mother Leah Wacando and club president Randal Ross said it was important for community elders to lead by example and model healthy eating.

“We teach ourselves,” Ms. Wacando said.

“If we want to make a change in our community, we have to make a change in ourselves.”