Let’s make a difference in diabetes care!
This election year, we want Parliament to make a real difference to the 1.4 million Australians living with diabetes and their carers.
In 2022, Parliament has the chance to drastically improve the lives of Australians living with diabetes, strengthen the health system, prevent and reduce disease burden and save money long-term by improving access to health care providers. In Australia, people living with diabetes shouldn’t lack access to expert diabetes care.
There are three small changes that health providers agree would have a tremendous impact:
1. Remuneration for diabetes health professionals to support optimal use of diabetes management technologies
Diabetes technology is lifesaving and improves the lives of thousands of Australians living with diabetes. However, learning how to use this technology can be challenging. Endocrinologists and Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) equip their patients and clients with the education and advice they need to manage diabetes technology.
To ensure their patients and clients receive the necessary care, they often work out of clinic hours and pro-bono, answering urgent calls or replying to text messages. In many cases, their intervention can prevent a late-night trip to the emergency department or even hospitalisation.
58,000 Australians are eligible to access crucial and often lifesaving diabetes technology through NDSS funding. Let’s ensure they understand how to use the technology optimally by supporting them with expert diabetes care. MBS funding for diabetes technology initiation and support will decrease inequity and increase access to the health system.
2. Additional CDE visits for the high-risk population to reduce the risk of complications
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) annual cycle of care recommends that a person living with diabetes receive between four (for low-risk people) and up to 17 allied health visits a year to maintain optimum health, manage diabetes, and lower the risk of complications which include heart attacks, stroke kidney failure, blindness, and foot amputations. Five visits a year for allied health and five reserved for CDE visits for the high-risk population, at a GP’s discretion, will help people living with diabetes access the care they require to manage their condition well and may reduce the risk of complications.
3. CDE visits for people with gestational diabetes to prevent complications and lessen the risk of type 2 diabetes
Data demonstrate that people who develop gestational diabetes in pregnancy have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, so do children born to parents who had gestational diabetes. Data demonstrate that half of all people with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes.[1] To reduce risk and provide continuity of care, all people diagnosed with gestational diabetes should be provided with MBS-reimbursed referrals to a visit a CDE:
- three visits during pregnancy, and
- two visits during the postpartum period.
This is in addition to the existing MBS referral to an Endocrinologist.
Be part of the election campaign: 3 ways you can help
- personalise and send this letter to your Member of Parliament and Senator
- share the official campaign graphics on social media (coming soon)
- pass on the materials to others and ask them to join the campaign
Supporting materials
Share these materials with your Member of Parliament, Senator, and community:
- Letter template: Write to your MP or Senator(Word doc)
- Diabetes Health Professionals Election Campaign 2022: Flyer (PDF)
- Budget Estimate (PDF)
- Diabetes Health Professionals Election Campaign 2022: Pre-budget Submission (PDF)
Get in touch with us (via ADEA)
For further information about the Diabetes Health Professionals Election Campaign 2022, please reach out to:
Melanie Gray MorrisADEA Manager Policy, Advocacy & Communicationsemail: melanie.morris@adea.com.au
[1] Lowe, et al. (2018) Association of Gestational Diabetes with Glucose Metabolism and Childhood Adiposity. JAMA, 320(10): 1005-1016. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11628.
