Unite in the fight for diabetes tech Australians living with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to the technology they need to live well. Right now they don’t and this needs to change. Right now in Australia, access to diabetes technology isn’t fair and equitable. Some people have technology like CGM devices and insulin pumps, while others go without. Our fight starts and ends with community. Together, we are raising our voice and fighting for change. Let’s unite in the fight for tech. Get involved Raise your voice. Share your story. Make an impact. Ensure decision makers know how important this issue is. Contact your local politician Add your voice and share why this issue matters to you. Tell your story Add your name to call for change. Sign a petition Amplify the campaign among your networks and contacts. Share the campaign Diabetes technology saves lives 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. These advances, particularly in diabetes technology, have been game changing. For people living with diabetes who use this technology, it is life changing and life saving. In 2022, the Australian Government implemented subsidised access to CGM devices for all people living with type 1 diabetes. This was huge for the type 1 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 enjoy good access, right now, technologies like CGM and insulin pumps are too expensive for hundreds of thousands of people. This has real consequences for their health and our health system. Australia needs a comprehensive approach to diabetes technology subsidies that would expand access, accelerate approvals, and ultimately improve health outcomes. Get involved Your stories “The affordability of this technology is hugely concerning as a mum because he’s got this added financial burden for the rest of his life. He should be able to be a young person without worrying about the financial cost of what he needs to be healthy and safe.” ~ Melanie’s son Andrew lives with type 1 diabetes “If CGM was more affordable for me as a person with type 2 diabetes, it would mean the world, to me and my fingers. I would feel more safe and secure.” ~ Greg, lives with type 2 diabetes “Right when I fell pregnant with my son, CGM became subsidised for pregnancy and that immediately eased so much of the stress I was feeling about, pregnancy with diabetes and so many unknowns. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to access through private health insurance and subsidies but with the rising costs of living it’s getting quite difficult.” ~ Rachel, lives with type 1 diabetes “Everyone living with type 1 diabetes can benefit from automated insulin delivery systems. However, at the moment you can only access this technology if you have the financial means to do so.” ~ Holly, lives with type 1 diabetes “It turned my world upside down. I suddenly had to think consciously about everything I put in my mouth, whether it might raise my blood sugars, how many carbohydrates there were. The counting carbohydrates drives me mad.” ~ Cheryl, lives with type 2 diabetes POSITION STATEMENT: Equitable Access to Diabetes Technology Australia needs a comprehensive approach to diabetes technology subsidies that would expand access, accelerate approvals, and ultimately improve health outcomes. Diabetes Australia’s policy paper outlines the steps needed to create more affordable access to CGM devices and insulin pumps for people with all types of diabetes. The paper includes economic modelling and calls on the Federal Government to invest $200 million over four years in increased subsidies for these technologies. Read the position statement “I can no longer closely monitor my glucose as my fingers are sore and the will to constantly check wanes. CGM would be invaluable to motivate me and keep levels steady. But the cost is prohibitive.” ~ Rashmi, lives with type 2 diabetes “If I didn’t have my internal pump life would be pretty hard because I’d have to take constant needles. Having a pump is a real-life changing device and it’s a real big help.” ~ Andrew, lives with type 1 diabetes “I was able to try CGM last year and found it to be a game changer. Unfortunately I’ve only been able to monitor using CGM another two times as the cost is just too high.” ~ Alan, lives with type 2 diabetes “I have never used a pump due to price. The cost of this condition is hard enough just to pay for insulin, let alone trying to cover costs for devices that would be greatly beneficial to my daily life.” ~ Phoebe, lives with type 1 diabetes “At an appointment, my Endocrinologist turned to my partner and said, ‘Do you know how often that pump has saved Kylie’s life?’ Even though private health insurance is almost a third of my pension, I couldn’t live without a pump.” ~ Kylie, lives with type 1 diabetes Get involved Raise your voice and unite for access to diabetes technology. Contact your local politician Contacting your local MP or Senators is a powerful way to raise your voice and ensure decision makers know how important this issue is. Below are some instructions and templates to help you. 1. Find your local MP/ Senator Find your local Senator or Member of Parliament and their contact details. Find Senators and Members 2. Write to your local Member or Senator Write to them (you can send a letter or email), letting them know why improving access to diabetes technology is so important to you. You can use our example templates as a starting point: Example MP letter about CGM Example letter about insulin pumps. 3. Contact Ministers for Health and Aged Care In addition to your local representatives, you can also write to the Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care. Share your story Have your say: Affordable access to Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) Share your story on what affordable access to AID would mean to you and your quality of life. Share your story Share your story: Subsidised access to CGM and your diabetes management Share your story through our Spark Change platform and have your say on what affordable access to AID would mean to you and your quality of life. Have your say on what affordable access to CGM would mean to you and your quality of life. Submit your views Sign a petition Drive change: Equitable access to diabetes tech for ALL Share your story through our Spark Change platform and have your say on what affordable access to AID would mean to you and your quality of life. Change.org petition: Equitable access to diabetes tech for ALL people with ALL diabetes types. Sign the petition Take action: Equitable access to AID for people with type 1 diabetes Share your story through our Spark Change platform and have your say on what affordable access to AID would mean to you and your quality of life. Change.org petition: Make Automated Insulin Delivery affordable for all Australians with type 1 diabetes. Sign the petition Share the campaign Campaign assets, including posters and social media tiles for you to share the campaign. People living with diabetes should be able to access the life-saving technology they need to live well. Together we can make a difference. Download resources Campaign news News 21 November 2024 Diabetes Australia team takes tech campaign to Federal Parliament Diabetes Australia took a simple yet powerful message to the halls of Parliament House in Canberra this week: Australians living… Continue Reading Blog 30 July 2024 National Diabetes Week 2024 unites the diabetes community in the fight for tech Continue Reading Media releases 20 July 2024 Expert modelling shows huge cost savings for diabetes technology Continue Reading Media releases 18 July 2024 Uniting for technology access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Continue Reading Read all Diabetes Australia recognises the generous support of our partner organisations, none of which have contributed to the content.
