Advocacy WORK
We represent and champion the needs of all people with or at risk of diabetes to reduce the incidence, complications and burdens of this long-term health condition.
Advocacy is an ongoing activity. It can take a long time to see results, however we will not stop. We will continue to push for improved funding and care for people living with diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our campaigns
2024
April 2024 was a historic milestone for our diabetes community and for all those living with type 1 diabetes. Pharmac – Te Pātaka Whaioranga announced their proposal to provide full funded access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGMs), insulin pumps, and insulin pump consumables for all people living with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes NZ and the diabetes community have been actively advocating for many years for this vital technology to be funded. We thank everyone who has been involved with this advocacy.
In May Pharmac announced a delay in their proposals around the funding of CGMs, insulin pumps and insulin consumables. We are so close to achieving this ultimate goal and remain committed to working with Pharmac while representing the diabetes community.
29 August 2024 Pharmac - Te Pātaka Whaioranga announced they would be funding continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and insulin pump consumables for people with type 1 diabetes from 1 October 2024.
“It’s been a long wait for people with type 1 diabetes to reach this point. We thank the diabetes community for their patience as we’ve worked through the commercial process and the significant feedback we’ve received along the way,” says Adrienne Martin, Pharmac’s Manager of Pharmaceutical Funding.
“We know this decision will make a real difference to thousands of people and their whānau who face the daily challenges of managing their type 1 diabetes health care, and we are so pleased to provide funding for these life-changing products.”
About 12,000 people with type 1 diabetes are expected to receive CGMs in the first year of funding, rising to more than 18,000 after five years. There are about 4,800 people currently using insulin pumps and Pharmac expects this number to increase to nearly 10,000 over five years.
“This is a monumental day for the diabetes community. Free access to CGMs and insulin pumps will not only be life changing for thousands of New Zealanders with type 1 diabetes – it will also be lifesaving. We know that for our type 1 community, this is more than just vital technology, it’s a lifeline for better health and greater freedom. Quite simply, it’s a game-changer.” - Heather Verry, CEO of Diabetes New Zealand.
We will not stop until CGMs are funded for all, so the advocacy will continue.
2023
June 2023 marks two years since Diabetes NZ presented at a parliamentary select committee hearing to advocate for CGM funding. Over the past five years we have laid the groundwork for a final push that advocates strongly for the funding of CGMs.
Now is the time to make this a political issue New Zealanders care about.
We are kicking off the next stage with our campaign: We Won’t Stop
We Won’t Stop until all New Zealanders living with diabetes who are using insulin have access to the global standard of care, including access to funded CGMs to manage their diabetes and avoid complications.
In February 2023, PHARMAC signals the first step in funding continuous glucose monitors in Aotearoa New Zealand. After many years of advocating, we hope that this is a decision for all people with diabetes who are insulin dependent.
#CGMforall
2022
#CGMforAll - Social media campaign
In February and March 2022, we took to social media for the next step in our campaign for CGM and FGM to be publicly funded for everyone in Aotearoa.
#CGMforall #NoMoreFingerpricks #FGMforall
2019-2021
Petition to Parliament asking for funding for better technology and medications for diabetes
In November 2019 we presented a petition to Parliament, asking:
“That the House of Representatives urge Pharmac to fund Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), GLP1 agonists including Bydureon, Byetta, Lyxumia, and Victoza, SGLT2 inhibitors including Forxiga and Jardiance, and DPP-4 inhibitors including Januvia, Onglyza, and Trajenta”.
In June 2021, we argued our case in front of the Health Select Committee, and Te Pataka Whaioranga - Pharmac responded a week later.
2021
The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes Report
In March 2021 our report, The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes, was launched at Parliament by Associate Minister for Health the Hon. Peeni Henare.
The report predicted a bleak future of Type 2 diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand increasing by 70-90% by 2040 if immediate action is not taken by Government, organisations and individuals.
However, it also presented four interventions that could turn the tide of this epidemic.
2020
Diabetes Action Month: Love Don’t Judge
We asked Kiwis to Love Don’t Judge as our survey of over 1,000 New Zealanders with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes revealed the emotional burden of a chronic condition that affects quarter of a million of us.
2019
Diabetes Action Month: It’s About Time
It’s about time to raise awareness of all types of diabetes among New Zealanders. It’s about time those living with diabetes have access to better medication and continuous glucose monitors. It’s about time everyone supports those affected by diabetes. And it’s about time we find the 100,000 undiagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
2018
Diabetes Stigma Survey
Our survey on Diabetes Stigma reveal that most Kiwis with diabetes encounter negative attitudes that add to the stress of their condition. An astounding 68% of people with type 1 diabetes and 40% of those with type 2 had encountered judgement for their food choices, and 10% said they have been discriminated against at work because of their diabetes, an extreme form of stigma.
Our mission is to lead, champion and advocate for change to reduce the incidence of diabetes, improved diabetes health care, and empower those affected by or at risk of diabetes to lead healthy, active lives.
We advocate for:
Equitable access and the best healthcare outcomes for all
Access to advanced devices and technologies for the management of diabetes
Gold standard medicines
Increased public awareness and understanding of diabetes
Increased action against environmental causes of, or contributors to, diabetes
We proactively champion the needs of all people with or at risk of diabetes to reduce the incidence, complications and burdens of this long-term health condition.
We do this by:
Delivering high quality, credible advocacy and lobbying to central and local government, MoH, Pharmac and related health agencies to:
promote and support healthy lifestyles
procure new, improved and free/subsidised essential services, devices (technologies), and medicines that drive high-impact changes to the treatment and health outcomes of all people with diabetes.
Working with the MoH, and related health agencies to improve existing diabetes services and care, to accepted gold standard levels.
Initiating expert studies and reports that will benefit the welfare of people with diabetes and reduce long term demands on the health system.
Campaigning for the food industry to cease promoting foods and beverages that contribute to this country’s obesity problem and the onset of diabetes.
Continuing to develop campaigns to improve public awareness and understanding of diabetes.