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
-
Imperatives for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Professor Clare Scott, a pioneering clinician scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, also serves as a medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Her comprehensive training in medical oncology has fuelled her specialisation in gynaecological cancer, combining rigorous research with clinical trials to improve patient outcomes. With over a decade of involvement in ANZGOG, Australia’s foremost gynaecologic cancer research organisation, she is deeply committed to advancing research and saving lives.
-
Surgeon receives global award for kidney transplant science
Commencing a new series called Pioneers in Health Care, is an interview with Professor Jeremy Chapman AC who for over 40 years, has been involved in nephrectomy, or kidney transplantation.
Honoured “for eminent service to medicine, particularly in the areas of clinical and biomedical research, to the development of ethical policy and practices for organ donation, acquisition and transplantation, and to renal medicine organisations and publications, Jeremy Chapman AC has played significant roles in development of kidney, pancreas and unrelated Bone Marrow Transplantation in Australia. -
LIVED EXPERIENCE: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Lachlan Thorpe has shared his experience of living with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), highlighting the profound impact the condition had on his life and the difference medical technology has made to his recovery.
In an interview with the Australian Health Journal, Thorpe explained that his CRPS developed following an ankle injury sustained while playing rugby for Sydney University Rugby Club in late 2024. After undergoing surgery and rehabilitation for the injury, he began experiencing severe pain, swelling and sensitivity despite there being no further orthopaedic damage.
