New policy paper calling for equitable access to diabetes tech launched during National Diabetes Week

15 July 2024—As part of the National Diabetes Week launch on 14 July, Diabetes Australia released a position statement outlining the steps to make CGM devices and insulin pumps more affordable for all types of diabetes.

The organisation, one of ADEA’s unified partners, is urging the Federal Government to invest $200 million over four years to increase subsidies for these essential technologies.

ADEA helped develop the position statement and its recommendations, which include the following:

• Expanding Medicare item numbers to cover health professionals, including CDEs, for initiating and supporting people living with diabetes and using CGM devices.
• Increasing the number of visits to CDEs for people living with diabetes.

‘It is imperative that people living with diabetes are given appropriate support when initiating any diabetes technology, as well as on an ongoing basis, that they know how to best use the technology, understand the information it provides, and get the best results,’ the position statement reads.

• Read the position statement: Equitable access to diabetes technology.

The publication follows the recent report from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, which calls for expanded subsidised access to diabetes technology and increased access to CDEs as part of comprehensive diabetes care reforms.

The theme of this year’s National Diabetes Week (14–20 July) is Unite in the fight for tech, which highlights the impact of diabetes technology and what needs to be done to improve access.

To learn more and participate, visit the official National Diabetes Week website.