The Australian Diabetes Society and experts are calling for the federal government to provide subsidized access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for all insulin-dependent diabetics, including those with type 2 diabetes. This appeal follows a 2024 parliamentary inquiry, which recommended lowering the cost of CGMs for all people with diabetes, but the measure has not yet been implemented.
Currently, CGMs are subsidized for type 1 diabetics, but patients with type 2 diabetes are excluded, despite their similar need for continuous blood glucose monitoring. A CGM is a small wearable device that offers an alternative to the invasive finger-prick method, offering real-time blood glucose level data without the discomfort of pricking and testing. However, CGMs can cost hundreds of dollars monthly, making them inaccessible to many with type 2 diabetes.
Melanie Moor, a type 2 diabetes patient, is among the many who struggle with the financial burden of managing their condition. Moor, who has lived with type 2 diabetes for over a decade, describes how the invasive daily blood glucose testing, involving finger pricks multiple times a day, once ruled her life. The toll on her physical health, combined with the stigma surrounding the condition, limited her social interactions and made daily activities a struggle.
A year ago, Moor’s doctor prescribed a CGM, which transformed her life. With the CGM, Moor could monitor her glucose levels via her smartphone, a significant improvement over her previous testing routine. She could leave the house with fewer medical supplies, no longer needing to rush to a bathroom for discreet blood sugar checks during social events. However, the device’s high cost, which can reach around $150 every 10-14 days, made continued use unaffordable for Moor, who also manages an autoimmune condition.
The Australian Diabetes Society’s CEO, Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos, argues that it is unfair for patients with type 2 diabetes to be excluded from subsidized CGM access when insulin dependence is common across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. He emphasized that providing CGM access to type 2 patients would improve their psychological well-being and overall health management. Andrikopoulos also highlighted the stigma often associated with type 2 diabetes, which can lead to misconceptions about its causes, despite the genetic factors that play a role in the condition.
While a parliamentary inquiry recommended expanded CGM access, patients like Moor continue to face barriers to affordable care. The government has yet to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations, and many are frustrated with the delay. “If they were in our situation, it would be a different story,” Moor said.
The federal government has indicated that it will review the report’s findings in the coming months, but for now, the debate continues over ensuring equitable access to diabetes care.
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