Diabetes Australia and its WA branch are calling for more affordable access to life-changing technology for people with diabetes.
Using this week’s National Diabetes Week, the group’s CEO Justine Cain said technology such as continuous glucose monitoring devices and insulin pumps were not affordable for many people, despite their life-changing impact.
The Diabetes Australia has called on the Federal Government to invest $200 million over four years in increased subsidies for these technologies.
“Over the past 100 years, advances in technology and medicines have delivered significant improvements in quality of life and health outcomes for people living with all types of diabetes,” Ms Cain said.
“In 2022, the Federal Government implemented subsidised access to CGM devices for all people living with type 1 diabetes. This was a significant win for the type 1 diabetes community and has improved the lives of tens of thousands of Australians. But there’s more to be done.
“While some Australians living with diabetes can access technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring devices and insulin pumps, they are just too expensive for many people. There are so many Australians struggling with the rising cost of living, that are missing out on life changing and potentially lifesaving diabetes technology.”
She said investing in diabetes technologies would ultimately reduce diabetes complications and hospitalisations, as well as improve quality of life.
A new policy paper, released this week by Diabetes Australia, included economic modelling which showed that a $200 million package of investment would support nearly 40,000 people living with diabetes to access these technologies, prioritising those with greatest need.
This initially includes insulin pumps for people living with type 1 diabetes who are:
- under 21 years of age;
- over 21 years of age with a health care card; or
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The proposal also includes CGM devices for people living with type 2 and other types of diabetes who are pregnant; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; under the age of 21; or requiring multiple daily injections of insulin.
“Access to these technologies is a significant issue for people living with diabetes,” Ms Cain said.
“While many Australians living with type 1 diabetes have affordable access to CGM, they cannot afford insulin pumps. Only around 24% of people living with type 1 diabetes are currently able to access this technology.
“If we can reduce the number of people who develop diabetes related complications like stroke, heart attack, blindness and kidney disease – we could reduce the economic burden on our health system by billions of dollars each year.”
Similarly, a report from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, chaired by Dr Mike Freelander, also recommended the expansion of subsidised access to CGM devices and insulin pumps.
It was estimated that the net four-year cost to government for extending subsidies to CGM devices to the type 2 community would be about $70m over four years, while the net four-year cost to government for expanding subsidies for insulin pumps would amount to approximately $130m.
Download the Equitable Access to Diabetes Technology position statement.