And leading diabetes organisations are asking for urgent help for them during this federal election campaign.
With the election on May 3, Diabetes Australia is calling for both major parties to commit to expanding affordable access to life-changing technologies for people living with diabetes.
The cost-of-living crisis is hitting Australians hard, with many people living with diabetes forced to choose between essential medical technology and basic necessities.
The latest Diabetes Australia cost-of-living survey found that for 61 per cent of people, the cost of diabetes medicines and technologies was their greatest challenge.
There are 912 people living with type 2 diabetes and 98 people with type 1 diabetes, including children, living in the Benalla region.
Diabetes Australia group chief executive Justine Cain said Australians living with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to the technology they needed to live well.
“Nobody should have to decide between good health care and putting food on the table,” Ms Cain said.
“The bipartisan support to expand continuous glucose monitoring device subsidies for people living with type 1 diabetes, in 2022, was welcome and much needed, and we thank both the government and the opposition for that.
“Unfortunately, people living with type 2 diabetes requiring multiple daily insulin injections are still being denied the same subsidy.
“On top of that, thousands of Australians living with type 1 diabetes, who can’t afford top-level private health insurance, are unable to afford insulin pumps.
“This situation cannot continue. Not only are we falling behind the diabetes technology provided in many other developed nations, but as a country, we are now failing to provide what is considered standard care in the management of diabetes.
“There is clear evidence that access to diabetes technologies reduces overall healthcare costs for both the individual and the healthcare system.
“A person’s bank balance or postcode should not be a barrier to good health.”
