Thien Kim Nguyen
Engaging with peers from a wide variety of backgrounds has helped me to understand their expertise.
I am a registered physiotherapist working in a public and private hospital. I became particularly interested in diabetes prevention and management whilst working at Townsville Hospital where I saw numerous people admitted for diabetes-related lower limb amputations. I am passionate about preventing type 2 diabetes through education and the implementation of public health policies to promote healthier eating and exercise habits.
I was initially curious about diabetes in high school when my father was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I remember him walking on the treadmill every day after work but he did not engage in any formal preventative treatment plan. Unsurprisingly, he was formally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) later on. Years later, I started working as a physiotherapist and a colleague brought to my attention the ability to manage and even potentially reverse T2DM with appropriate preventative strategies. I read a handful of research articles and was inspired. Together with my GP, I created a diet and exercise program for my father and he lost 6 kg, reduced his waist circumference by 7cm, and lowered his blood glucose levels. Most importantly, he understood what diabetes was and the reasoning behind changing his diet and improving his activity levels.
Afterwards, I relocated to Townsville working in the hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit where I saw numerous people with diabetes-related lower limb amputations. I witnessed the emotional and physical toll of losing one’s independence and that’s where my professional interest in diabetes prevention started. I was helping people to re-learn the basic movements of living again – getting out of bed, getting dressed, standing, and walking. The thought of people losing a limb horrified me – especially when it could have been prevented. And so, I returned to Sydney and the first thing I did was to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management.
I chose to study at UTS because of its longstanding reputation and experience delivering the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management. The most rewarding aspect of the course was learning from the experiences of people living with diabetes and the perspectives of other healthcare professionals. Diabetes prevention and management requires the knowledge and skills of a multidisciplinary team including clinicians such as nurses, doctors, dietitians, podiatrists, pharmacists, and exercise physiologists. The opportunity to engage with peers from a wide variety of backgrounds has helped me to understand their expertise and it has been a highlight of my experience in the course.
I hope to expand our understanding of diabetes prevention and management through research and apply it into the public health sphere. I am particularly interested in preventing lower limb amputations and improving the knowledge and understanding of diabetes in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
This degree is a significant stepping stone if you are passionate about diabetes prevention and management. You will learn an incredible amount of theoretical and practical knowledge from the lecturers as well as your peers. Enter the course with an open mind and engage with people from different professional, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. It will push you to challenge any pre-conceived notions and expand your thought processes.
