Media Releases

Diabetes Australia has welcomed the inclusion of $243.5 million over four years from 2018-19 (and $84.1 million per year ongoing) to support people with diabetes and the expansion of access to new glucose monitoring technologies.

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said it was very pleasing that the continuous glucose monitoring program, first announced in 2016 and extended recently by the Government, will form part of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) from 1 January 2019.

Junk food advertising to children urgently needs to be better regulated. That’s a recommendation from the Senate report on obesity, released last night, and a message that the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance strongly supports.

Chair of the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance Sharon McGowan said limiting unhealthy food marketing would reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food and its subsequent consumption.

“Unhealthy weight is a major risk factor for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Preventing obesity in children is particularly important, as it is difficult to reverse weight gain once established," Ms McGowan said.

Australia’s leading diabetes groups have welcomed a major funding boost that will help up to 37,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes access life-changing diabetes technology.

Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP announced funding of $100 million over four years to help Australians living with type 1 diabetes access glucose monitoring technology. The funding will save eligible people with diabetes up to $7000 per annum.

A new diabetes in schools education and training program will make it easier for teachers and staff to support children with type 1 diabetes, and give parents confidence that their children will be safe and supported at school.

Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, at Mornington Park Primary School in Melbourne announced funding of $6 million over two years to develop and deliver the program through the National Diabetes Services Scheme.

Diabetes Australia applauds the decision by Health Minister Greg Hunt and the Federal Government to list Ryzodeg on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 30 July 2018.

Ryzodeg is a combination of ultra-long acting and rapid-acting insulin delivered in a once-daily injection that will eliminate the need for multiple daily injections and make diabetes management easier and less intrusive for some people.

Insulin injections are one of the most intrusive parts of living with diabetes. All people living with type 1 diabetes who are not using insulin pumps and many people with type 2 diabetes have to inject themselves with insulin multiple times during the day.

Australians with all types of diabetes, who often see a range of health professionals to manage their condition, could see the biggest health benefits from having a My Health Record.

My Health Record is an online health record, that enables the safe storage, access and sharing of important health information. It will improve communication between GPs, endocrinologists (diabetes specialists), diabetes educators, optometrists, podiatrists and other health professionals that provide care to people with diabetes.

Leading diabetes and eye health groups today applauded the Australian Government funding announcement for a new national diabetes eye screening program to reduce vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes.

The Australian-first initiative program is a major step in the fight against diabetes related blindness and will enable early detection and treatment to protect the sight of over 1.2 million Australians living with diabetes.

Diabetes Australia has warned that failure to implement a comprehensive national type 2 diabetes early detection program could be costing the Australian health system more than $700 million each year.

Health groups are calling for more Australians to have a HbA1c blood test to better detect silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said the HbA1c test, which can measure long-term blood glucose levels, is recommended both for diagnosing and monitoring the management of type 2 diabetes. Until recently the HbA1c test was only used for monitoring diabetes but it is now recommended for diagnosing type 2 diabetes.

The 18 leading health and community organisations behind Rethink Sugary Drink have noted with interest the pledge by Australia’s non-alcoholic drinks companies to cut sugar across the industry by one-fifth, but would prefer to see more genuine reformulation efforts.