The Liberal National Government has expanded free access to glucose monitoring devices for pregnant women, children and more adults with type 1 diabetes, saving people in O’Connor up to $7,000 a year.
People will be eligible for fully subsidised continuous glucose monitoring devices under the National Diabetes Services Scheme from March 1, 2019.
Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson welcomed the $100 million announcement.
“This additional funding over the next four years will ensure free glucose monitoring devices will be available to over 37,000 eligible people with type 1 diabetes across Australia,” he said.
“I’ve been contacted by people in O’Connor with concerns about the cost of consumables so it’s great news that this cost will now be subsidized.”
Women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant, breastfeeding or actively planning pregnancy, and young people with conditions similar to type 1 diabetes who require insulin will be eligible.
People with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older who have concessional status, and who have a high clinical need such as experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemic events will also be eligible.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the devices would bring peace of mind to people with type 1 diabetes and improve their quality of life now and into the future.
“Expanding access to these glucose monitoring devices helps reduce stress and anxiety as well as emergency visits to the hospital,” he said.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks a person’s ability to produce insulin. People with this condition must be able to monitor their glucose levels day and night.
Continuous glucose monitoring devices continually monitor a person’s glucose levels and provides alerts if glucose levels drop too low.
It involves a sensor, usually attached to the stomach, that monitors the glucose levels and has an alarm that can alert people or their carer if the levels drop to low.
The federal government also plans to add the new FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to the scheme for people with type 1 diabetes.
The FreeStyle Libre device involves a sensor on the arm that monitors glucose levels and sends readings to a mobile phone or diabetes management device. When a patient passes their phone or device past the sensor it provides a reading of their glucose levels.
