IMPROVED ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY NEEDED FOR PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES NEEDING INSULIN National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) disparity in subsidised access to CGM systems
Australian Health Journal segment
Filmed in Canberra | March 2025
With
Susan Davidson, CEO
Australian Diabetes Educators Association
Sahar Awais,
NSW Registered Nurse
Susan Davidson is the CEO of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), the leading body for diabetes education in Australia. ADEA plays a crucial role in accrediting credentialed diabetes educators and providing essential training for all health professionals, as roughly 25% of individuals seeking healthcare are affected by diabetes.
In Australia, around 1.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes, with an additional estimated 500,000 undiagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes. Among those diagnosed, approximately 140,000 have Type 1 diabetes, while 1.3 million live with Type 2 diabetes, and about 65% of these individuals use insulin. The increasing prevalence of diabetes highlights the need for consistent education among healthcare providers to aid patients in managing their conditions effectively.
To address the evolving nature of diabetes management and technology, ADEA has recently introduced micro-credentials for healthcare professionals, enhancing their understanding of diabetes care. Consistent messaging from various healthcare providers is vital, as conflicting information can lead to patient confusion and disengagement from care.
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) provides subsidised products for diabetes management; however, disparities exist in access to technology between those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. While continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are subsidised for Type 1, they are not available for Type 2 diabetes. ADEA advocates for equitable access to these essential tools, emphasising that all individuals with diabetes deserve the resources necessary for optimal management and reduced risk of complications. Without such technologies, many are forced to rely on finger pricking, which can be inconvenient and unsafe in settings such as the workplace and in higher education.
Source: Rewritten from transcript
-
Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program
How does a nurse navigate senior management to affect change within their organisation? It’s a gap that Australian College of Nursing is helping to fill with it’s Mid-Career Nurse Leadership Program that gives established nursing professional access to prominent leaders in nursing.
-
From University to Pharmacy Industry
The transition from full time academic study to industry can be both rewarding and challenging. Intern programs and an association for pharmacists, makes the transition easier.
The National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) represents students from 17 universities nationwide studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate program. The association advocates for Australian pharmacy students to ensure their future is prosperous and their status, rights and privileges are protected.
-
Making clinical trials participant friendly
Clinical trials are essential in developing new, improved, and more effective treatments and interventions. Without trials, researchers and professionals in the field cannot properly determine whether these new treatments and interventions are safe and effective.
The Clinials platform is geared towards patient centric trials and reducing site burden. The aim is to accelerate lifesaving medicines coming to market by connecting participants and researchers. The platform allows participants to come to researchers with their eligibility in hand among other capabilities.
