$6 million diabetes initiative for early 2020

World Diabetes Day is an important awareness raising initiative that this year focuses on the role family plays in managing, treating and identifying diabetes.

To mark the day, the Morrison Government announced the Type 1 Diabetes Management in Schools program will commence in early 2020, in readiness for the new school year.

This $6 million initiative will support students with type 1 diabetes by providing a training and education program for staff at selected schools, to support students with the condition.

Staff at selected schools will be trained in glucose monitoring, insulin administration and recognition of hypoglycaemia. In addition, a new online portal will be available to all parents, principals, school staff and health professionals.

“This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is ‘My diabetes, my family’ and there is no doubt managing diabetes at schools can be a strain for many families,” said Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson.

“In the past year more than 1000 school age children have been newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and for these students and their families, as well as those who have lived with type 1 diabetes for longer, going to school can be overwhelming and challenging.

Prof Johnson acknowledged the support of all the leading diabetes organisations in Australia including Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group and Australian Diabetes Society, and JDRF Australia who have all partnered together in developing this new program.

This initiative builds on our investment of more than $300 million over four years for the Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Initiative through the National Diabetes Services Scheme.

You can visit the Diabetes in Schools website here.

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