Sugar Man (diabetes education)

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Not to be confused with Sugar Man.

The Sugar Man is an innovative interactive model for diabetes education developed by registered nurse Michael Porter. It was first presented at Leigh Creek Hospital in South Australia and has since been used at numerous events around Australia - in particular CrocFest and some of the Healthy for Life days. The Sugar Man model has been adopted by student run Rural Medical Health Clubs such as ARMS (ANU Rural Medical Society) and adapted to different situations.

In tackling the increasing problem of diabetes in the Indigenous population, Michael Porter has devised a program that educates adults and children about diabetes in a fun and interactive way. The Sugar Man takes the form of an outline of a body (initially created with rocks on the ground) drawn on a large piece of canvas. The participants then do activities which teach them about glucose transport, insulin resistance and the role of exercise in controlling diabetes.

The work is predicated on the need to provide information in a way that is simple, easy to understand and culturally sensitive. The project uses storytelling, activities and visual learning to provide a preventative strategy to a growing health burden for Aboriginal Australians.