Diabetes Australia took a simple yet powerful message to the halls of Parliament House in Canberra this week: Australians living with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to the technology they need to live well.  

Highlighting our advocacy for increased subsidies for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, a delegation from Diabetes Australia, including people living with diabetes, met with Senators and Members of Parliament to discuss the life-changing nature of these technologies.  

Proud mum of two Katie Godden, endocrinologist Dr Ben Nash, and former AFL star Paddy McCartin (pictured above) all live with type 1 diabetes and shared their stories with the nation’s policy makers about the importance of diabetes technologies. Far left is Diabetes Australia’s Taryn Black. 

Diabetes Australia’s policy paper outlines the steps needed to create more affordable access to CGM devices and insulin pumps, including economic modelling that shows a $200 million package of investment would support nearly 40,000 people living with diabetes to access these technologies, prioritising those with the greatest need. 

Acknowledging that subsidies to improve access will likely need to be delivered in a staged approach over time, the paper recommends key priority groups in the first instance, with further expansion in the future. 

The paper also outlines recommendations for changes to the way diabetes technologies are assessed and approved in Australia and investment in the diabetes workforce to support people living with diabetes get the most out of technology. 

A busy day at Parliament House on November 20 saw the Diabetes Australia team meet with many Members of Parliament and Senators including Dr Mike Freelander MP and Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston. Great connections were formed as advocates discussed how important technology is for people living with diabetes.