Diabetes leaders and medtech sector hit back at reporting undermining public trust

Leading diabetes organisations and the medtech sector have mounted a coordinated defence following the Nine Publishing and 60 Minutes coverage aired during National Diabetes Week, accusing the reporting of undermining confidence and trust in life-changing medical devices and Australia’s regulatory framework.

The sector’s rebuttal follows concerns that the mainstream media investigation could discourage patients from using medical technologies regarded by healthcare professionals as essential to improving health outcomes and quality of life.

Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) CEO, Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos, said “Like all medical treatments, diabetes technology carries some risk. But the evidence is unambiguous: for most people living with type 1 diabetes, the benefits of this technology far outweigh that risk, particularly when people are supported by a qualified diabetes care team.”

Data from the Australian Diabetes Clinical Quality Registry (ADCQR) reinforces that position. More than 90% of people living with type 1 diabetes are using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), while 36% are using insulin pump therapy. ADCQR data also show that people with type 1 diabetes using CGM have, on average, 0.7% lower HbA1c than non-CGM users. This is a clinically meaningful improvement in long-term glucose control that reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications.

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) delivered the strongest criticism of the media coverage, arguing that its interpretation of medical device safety data risks creating unnecessary fear among patients.

“MTAA strongly rejects the underlying premise of this reporting. The conclusions presented are highly predicated on inappropriate interpretation of data, go far beyond what the actual data can demonstrate, and oversimplify highly complex clinical issues,” said Ian Burgess CEO of MTAA.

“Patient safety is a continuous, shared commitment. Our industry thrives on rigorous scrutiny, scientific validity, and constant clinical improvement. However, sensationalised reporting that mischaracterises regulatory processes and misinterprets raw data does a profound disservice to the Australian public. Rather than fostering constructive dialogue, it threatens to erode trust in vital medical interventions. This alarmism may dangerously lead patients to delay vital medical procedures or make critical decisions about their healthcare without consulting their clinicians,” added Burgess.

The Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) also warned that questioning established diabetes technologies risks undermining proven improvements in maternal and infant health.

“The benefits of diabetes technology are particularly clear during pregnancy, backed by high-quality evidence from clinical trials and strong regulatory processes,” said ADIPS President Dr Matthew Hare. “England’s National Health Service has now mandated that pregnant women with type 1 diabetes have funded access to the latest insulin pump technology. Their national data show that women who access this technology have 20% fewer severe adverse outcomes such as stillbirth and congenital anomalies. It is essential that pregnant women in Australia have equitable access to both this technology and the specialist diabetes care team needed to support its use.”

The Australian and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ANZSPED) argued that expanding access to diabetes technology should remain a national priority, particularly for children and young people.

“To support children living with diabetes, we absolutely must ensure that access to technology is increased along with support for children and their carers – in particular, universal access to automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, which are recognised as the standard of care,” stated ANZSPED President Dr Tony Huynh.

“The decision by the federal government to subsidise CGM for children and young adults with type 1 diabetes has profoundly changed the clinical care, reducing hypoglycaemia and the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA),” Dr Huynh added. “In addition to the clinical benefits, there is a significant quality-of-life benefit. Parents sleep better knowing that their children’s blood glucose levels are being monitored overnight.”

Diabetes continues to impose a growing health and economic burden, costing Australia an estimated $17.6 billion annually. More than 1.5 million Australians are living with diagnosed diabetes, including approximately 1.3 million people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). While many Australians living with type 1 diabetes already have access to subsidised CGM technology through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), other high-need populations remain excluded despite strong clinical evidence supporting broader and more equitable access.

Currently, only 28% of Australians with type 2 diabetes achieve recommended glycaemic targets, creating an elevated risk of acute and chronic complications, driving health deterioration and health system costs. Evidence supporting CGM adoption continues to grow, with use associated with an average absolute HbA1c reduction of 1.4% and improvements in time-in-range from 46% to 73%.

ANZSPED stressed the importance of expanding access to CGM for people living with type 2 diabetes who could benefit from the technology, while ensuring access is accompanied by the education and professional support required to use it safely and effectively.

Melanie Gray Morris, CEO of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), said “When technology-related issues occur, they are often associated with gaps in education, training, support or follow-up rather than the technology alone. The answer to that problem is better access to health professional support like Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDE), not less technology.”

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