Understanding Gestational Diabetes by Caroline Hoggenmueller, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Northpark Private Hospital. Diabetes is a condition where too much blood glucose is travelling through the blood stream. The hormone insulin moves glucose or sugar from your blood and into your body’s cells, where it is used for energy. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes which only occurs in pregnancy and affects 12-15% of all pregnant women in Australia. In pregnancy, hormones produced by the placenta, which help your baby to thrive, make it harder for your body’s insulin to work properly. This condition is called insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes then develops when your body is unable to cope with the extra demand for insulin production, which results in high blood glucose levels.

Cardiovascular disease continues to be a major health problem and the leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women. It has long been accepted that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs to prevent or conducted after a cardiac event are effective in reducing mortality, improving outcomes of cardiovascular disease and quality of life.

Coronary artery disease is a serious condition that occurs when there is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to your heart. It is usually caused by a build-up of plaque (cholesterol and fatty deposits) in the wall of the arteries. If a blockage stops the flow of blood completely or almost completely, you will suffer a heart attack which can be life-threatening. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease in Australia.

One of the most valuable tips for people living with Parkinson’s disease is to think of exercise as medicine. Exercises and physical activities are one of the most beneficial things that a person with Parkinson’s can do, to live long and live strong. The exact cause of Parkinson’s is still not known and there is currently no cure.

Hosted by VCCC Research & Education leads, Professor Bruce Mann and Dr Belinda Yeo, with international guest speaker Dr Ann Partridge, Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical school, vice-chair of Medical Oncology, Dana - Farber Cancer Institute. Panellists included: Ms Kathryn Wallace - Breast Care Nurse Consultant; Northpark Private Hospital, Epworth Eastern Box Hill and Austin Health. Dr Keelan Byrne - Radiation Oncologist; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Ms Jodie Lydeker - Consumer representative, Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA)

On International Transgender Day of Visibility (31 March), Australia’s largest private mental health facility has highlighted the importance of understanding and empathy for members of the trans community.

Today marks International Transgender Day of Visibility, which provides an opportunity for Australians to educate themselves on the discrimination faced by many transgender people, and to celebrate their contribution to society.

The Darwin Clinic, the Northern Territory’s first private mental health clinic, has celebrated its official opening. Located at Darwin Private Hospital, the $16 million 18 bed facility expects to treat up to 5000 patients in its first 12 months of operation.

Everyone has experienced the malaise one feels after a poor night's sleep, whether it be from caring for a sick child, after a late-night out, or even after lying awake stressed about an important event to come. For most, this is a rare occurrence, but 20-35% of the population report daily or near-daily inadequate sleep, difficulty falling or maintaining sleep, daytime tiredness or irritability.1 Society's increasing reliance on electronics and our ever-increasing inability to disconnect from work and social media has further negatively impacted our sleep quality.