Pre-election commitment sees access to technology expanded in type 1 diabetes

MedTech News: Australians living with type 1 diabetes can now access subsidised continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and Flash glucose monitoring devices following the landmark expansion of the CGM Initiative by the Albanese Government. It was a pre-election political commitment by both parties.

Australia’s Diabetes Alliance, made up of Diabetes Australia, JDRF Australia, the Australian Diabetes Society, the Australian Diabetes Educators Association and the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group, the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society applauded the Government declaring the expansion life-changing for up to 70,000 people living with type 1 diabetes and their families.

Subsidised access extends to Dexcom products (AMSL), Medtronic products and FreeStyle Libre products (Abbott Diabetes Care) – small wearable devices that monitor glucose levels automatically, providing readings every few minutes and reduce the need for finger-prick checks.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO A/Professor Sof Andrikopoulos said the expansion of access to CGM and Flash will improve health outcomes.

“CGM can help to prevent and reduce dangerously low blood glucose levels and provide people with diabetes and their healthcare team with more information about their glucose levels. This information helps people with diabetes reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications like vision loss, limb amputation and kidney and heart failure,” he said.

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Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said it was an historic day for people living with type 1 diabetes and their families.

“Diabetes Australia and leading diabetes groups have been advocating for access to CGM and Flash GM technology for people with type 1 diabetes for more than a decade and today represents the culmination of that effort,” Ms Cain said.

“This life-changing and life-saving technology will help improve the physical and mental health of people living with type 1 diabetes and ease the burden of cost-of-living pressures. Many people will now pay the equivalent of $32.50 for one month’s supply, or around $400 a year, instead of the up to $4,000 that some people paid previously.

“Access to diabetes technology is also smart policy that invests in the long-term sustainability of our health system by helping to reduce the number of people who develop debilitating and costly diabetes-related complications.”

JDRF Australia CEO Mike Wilson OAM said the transformative impact of diabetes technology couldn’t be understated.

“Living with type 1 diabetes can be complex and time consuming. The 130,000 Australians living with the condition undertake a range of daily tasks to stay healthy including checking blood glucose levels with a finger prick check up to six times a day,” Mr Wilson said.

“That’s more than 2,000 finger prick checks a year. For a person who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 20 years that’s almost 50,000 finger prick checks. CGM technology drastically reduces the number of fingers pricks required which means that people with diabetes can get on with living their lives.”

Australian Diabetes Educators Association CEO Susan Davidson said type 1 diabetes impacts mental and emotional health and that access to diabetes technology can help to alleviate the mental burden.

“Access to glucose monitoring technology can help ease the anxiety and stress that is sometimes associated with living with diabetes,” Ms Davidson said.

“I commend the frontline health professionals including credentialled diabetes educators, endocrinologists and nurse practitioners who know firsthand how the optimal use of this technology can help people with diabetes to live their healthiest lives.

“Our thanks to Minister Butler, the Albanese Government and the Department of Health and Aged Care for their ongoing commitment to people with diabetes.”

Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group President Associate Professor Louise Conwell said the announcement was particularly important for young people who previously lost access to the subsidy when they turned 21.

“For most young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in recent years, continuous glucose monitoring has been the main way to measure their glucose levels, so to have access to that removed when they turned 21 made a difficult transition point even harder,” Associate Professor Conwell said.