Dr Robert S Schmidli

MB ChB, FRACP, MRCP, PhD

I am offering telephone consultations to patients, and face-to-face standard consultations on request and for new patients to the practice. You will require a valid referral. Consultations will be billed at the standard rate.
Please fill in the new patient registration form if you have not attended the practice before. Please scan or photograph this and email it to reception. If you do not have access to email it can be sent to us by post or delivered to the reception desk
The new patient registration form can be downloaded here

People with diabetes are at increased risk of complications with COVID-19. See link below
Close monitoring and management of diabetes, trying to ensure that blood glucose levels are well controlled, are very likely to be helpful in reducing the risk of more severe complications
If people with diabetes get COVID-19 or other viral infections, there will be a significant impact on their glucose levels, which will require close monitoring and optimal management
You should work on optimising your blood glucose control now
People with diabetes and additional risk factors should if at all possible work from home; practice social distancing and good hand hygiene
You must be familiar with sick day management
If you have type 1 diabetes you must have up to date supplies of glucagon and ketone strips. If possible, somebody else needs to be familiar with injecting you with glucagon if you have a severe hypo
If you are on an insulin pump, you must have a plan involving injection of long and short-acting insulin, if your pump fails
All of the COVID-19 vaccines are suitable for people with diabetes. It is important that you are vaccinated.
You should arrange a flu vaccination, and disucss the pneumonia vaccine with your GP
Latest information from Australian Diabetes Society (PDF document)

There is a shortage of some doses of hydrocortisone. If necessary this can be substituted with Cortisone Acetate. The dose is not the same. Contact your endocrinologist if you are unable to obtain hydrocortisone tablets
If you are on hydrocortisone, cortisol, prednisone, prednisolone or dexamethasone, you may have a crisis if you have an acute illness (COVID-19, gastroenteritis, flu etc) or injury. It is essential that you are able to manage these situations
Good sick day management is essential to achieve optimal outcomes in any acute illness
Management of adrenal insufficiency in COVID-19 is the same as for any other respiratory illness such as a cold/flu
Please ensure that you have an up-to-date Solu-Cortef Act-O-Vial, and a 2ml syringe and 25G long needle
You will need a sick day management plan. If you do not have this, contact your endocrinologist
In the event of a crisis, you or a carer need to be able to inject hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef). You need to revise this now. A video is available here. Alternatively text 0448 267 833 the word "Solucortef" (beware auto-correct changing the spelling), and the link will be texted back to you
The Canberra Hospital information sheet on management of Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency is available here

You should have regular testing as ordered by your doctor and take your medications regularly
Don't forget that Carbimazole and Propylthiouracil can rarely cause neutropenia (low white count). This could make you susceptible to serious infections. You should stop these drugs if you develop a fever or sore throat and contact your doctor immediately
All of the current COVID-19 vaccines are suitable for people with Graves' disease or hyperthyroidism. The vaccines may cause a fever and flu-like symptoms for a few days