Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP said she was delighted that more local people living with type 1 diabetes are now able to access life changing subsidised Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) products.

On National Diabetes Week, Mrs Phillips said the Australian Government has extended subsidised access to CGM products under the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), effective from 1 July, helping more people to better manage their blood glucose levels.

“This is a great example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering on it’s election commitments now, with an additional $273.1 million over four years being provided,” Fiona Phillips said.

“I have been raising the issue of access to CGM products for years, and I am delighted that the voices of so many local people living with type 1 diabetes have finally been heard,” the Gilmore MP said. 

Australians over the age of 21 with type 1 diabetes will be able to access CGM products through their pharmacy, with a co-payment equivalent to $32.50 per month or $390 per year. These life saving devices were previous costing them up to $5,000 per year.

Supporting more people with subsidised CGM products will improve the health and quality of life for tens of thousands of Australians living with type 1 diabetes. While finger prick blood testing gives patients a glucose reading at a single point in time, CGM gives continuous glucose readings, including during sleep.

“CGM technology is life changing and finally all Australians with type 1 diabetes will be able to access these products. I want to thank all those locals who raised this issue with me for their advocacy on this critically important health issue,” she said.

People who are currently eligible for CGM products through the NDSS will continue to receive products free of charge. This includes children and young adults under 21 with type 1 diabetes, concession card holders with type 1 diabetes, and people with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant, post-pregnancy or trying to become pregnant.

The Government is also delivering on its commitment to expand the eligibility criteria for the separate Insulin Pump Program.

This will provide an additional 35 fully subsidised insulin pumps a year to allow young adults aged 18 to 21 with type 1 diabetes from financially disadvantaged families to benefit from this life-changing technology.

“Until now, this program has been limited to children up to the age of 18,” Fiona Phillips said.

“Again, it is more great news to help people in our community to better manage their condition.”