Today thousands of Australians with type 1 diabetes will be able to access life-changing diabetes technology thanks to a $100 million expansion of the Federal Government’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring Funding Initiative.
Continuous glucose monitors were first subsidised in April 2017 for children and young people with type 1 diabetes but this was limited to those under 21 years of age. From today, subsidised access has been expanded to include:
- Women with type 1 diabetes who are actively planning pregnancy, pregnant, or immediately post-pregnancy
- People with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older who have a valid concession card and have a high clinical need
- Children and young people under 21 with conditions very similar to type 1 diabetes who require insulin.
Continuous glucose monitors are small wearable devices that can sound alarms and send warnings if glucose levels are getting too low or too high. The devices reduce the number of daily finger prick checks.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said the expansion of subsidised access was targeted at those who most needed it, and those who could least
afford it.
“Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can help prevent or reduce the very serious impact of hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels and potential for loss of consciousness and coma) and also the fear and anxiety associated with these risks,” Professor Johnson said.
