$100 million to support people manage type 1 diabetes

Minister for Health
MEDIA RELEASE
25 November, 2018
$100 million to support people manage type 1 diabetes

The Morrison Government will expand free access to blood glucose monitoring devices for pregnant women, children and more adults with type 1 diabetes, saving people up to $7,000 a year.

This investment of more than $100 million in additional funding over the next four years will ensure that free glucose monitoring devices are available to over 37,000 eligible people with type one diabetes.

From March 1, 2019 eligibility for fully subsidised continuous glucose monitoring device will be expanded under the National Diabetes Services Scheme to include:

• women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant, breastfeeding or actively planning pregnancy
• people with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older who have concessional status, and who have a high clinical need such as experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemic events
• children and young people with conditions similar to type 1 diabetes who require insulin. This includes a range of conditions such as cystic fibrosis related diabetes or neonatal diabetes

The Government will work with Diabetes Australia and key diabetes experts to implement the expanded scheme and finalise the clinical criteria.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks a person’s ability to produce insulin. People with this condition must be able to monitor their glucose levels day and night.

Continuous glucose monitoring devices continually monitor a person’s blood sugar levels and provides alerts if blood sugar levels drop too low.

It involves a sensor, usually attached to the stomach, that monitors the blood levels and has an alarm that can alert people or their career if the levels drop to low.

The Government also plans to add the new the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to the scheme for these people with type one diabetes. This will provide patients with more choice in how they manage their diabetes through this important program.

The FreeStyle Libre device involves a sensor on the arm that monitors blood glucose levels and sends readings to a user’s mobile phone. When a patient passes their phone past the sensor it provides a reading of their blood sugar levels.

Expanding access to these blood glucose monitoring devices helps reduce stress and anxiety as well as emergency visits to the hospital.

These devices will bring peace of mind to Australians with type 1 diabetes and improve their quality of life now and into the future.

In line with a commitment made during the 2016 federal election, the Coalition Government has already made access to glucose monitoring products available to eligible children and young people aged under 21 years with type 1 diabetes – nearly 9,500 young Australians – through the National Diabetes Services Scheme have already taken up the free devices.

The Morrison Government’s strong economic management means we can make sure people have more patients have access to more life-saving and life-improving medicines and treatments.

More information will be available from the National Diabetes Services Scheme website at: www.ndss.com.au