Diabetes NZ calls on government to fund life-saving equipment
This World Diabetes Day, Diabetes NZ is calling on the government to fund life-saving technology and medication that will significantly change the lives of 25,000 children & adults living with type 1 diabetes and nearly ¼ million with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes NZ is urging the government to fund continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) with a petition being presented to parliament Thursday 21st November. The petition currently has more than 25,000 signatures and is growing daily.
Diabetes NZ CEO Heather Verry says, “It’s about time the government took the needs of the diabetes community seriously. We need action now to give people with diabetes the support they deserve.”
CGM technology allows people with diabetes to measure their blood glucose levels continually maintain ideal blood glucose levels and in turn prevent hospitalisations.
While anyone using a CGM describes the technology as life changing, costs start from $50 per week which many can’t afford.
“Because CGMs aren’t funded, many New Zealanders, including children, living with diabetes will never experience the life-changing, life-saving benefits – and that’s not good enough!”
The CGM attaches to the arm and gives an accurate blood glucose level in seconds through a digital sensor, with not a drop of blood. Importantly, it also shows trends as to whether the blood glucose levels are dropping or rising, which helps avoid levels from going too high or low, and the consequences that come with this.
Blood glucose levels that are too low can be dangerous and result in coma, seizures, loss of consciousness and hospitalisation. Long-term effects of blood glucose levels that are too high can be fatal.
“This equipment shouldn’t be treated as a luxury. The technology to live a normal, healthy life is there, but Kiwis aren’t given access to it,” says Verry.
Verry says New Zealand is falling behind on funding drugs and devices for our national health crisis of diabetes.
The 25,000 New Zealanders with type 1 diabetes and thousands more with type 2 are faced with the struggles of glucose monitoring, but with CGMs they don’t have to suffer any longer.
Diabetes NZ is urging all New Zealanders to support their petition for funding. To sign the petition go to http://bit.ly/DNZPetition
Real Life Effects
Ruby McGill was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 20 years ago at the age of 14 and struggled with the old way of diabetes monitoring. Painfully drawing blood from her fingertips every couple of hours meant Ruby could only get limited information on her diabetes as often as she could test.
Having a CGM for the last year has allowed her to monitor, including at night, and gain the best control she’s ever had over her condition in the 20 years since her diagnosis.
“Using a CGM has given me the freedom I didn’t know I could have with diabetes,” says Ruby. “You never get a break from diabetes, but this technology can give you that freedom.”
Ruby receives financial support from her family to wear a CGM.
“It’s a challenge for me to fund it myself, even though I am a working mum I have to rely on family help.”
“I can get on with being a parent, running a business and live my life like everyone else when I’m using a CGM – that shouldn’t be a luxury!”
Payton McDonald was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just seven years old and is fortunate enough to have been able to use a CGM in recent years. Now, the whole family can sleep through the night without multiple alarms to wake up and finger prick test Payton just to keep her alive.
Using a CGM means a special alarm will go off only if her blood glucose goes starts trending downwards, meaning the family can treat her before her blood glucose drops too low.
Payton’s mother, Hayley McDonald says, “Our whole family can sleep knowing that if there’s Payton’s blood glucose starts dropping, we’ll be woken up and can treat it before it becomes a problem.”
The CGM connects to Hayley’s cell phone so she doesn’t need to be physically there to track her daughter’s blood glucose levels.
“I can now go to work and go about the day and night without the excruciating stress of worrying about Payton’s diabetes. It’s a genuine life saver and I only wish every family with type 1 diabetes could have access to a CGM.”
“There are 25,000 Kiwis with type 1 diabetes missing out on a normal life we now know is possible,” Hayley says.
ENDS
Released on behalf of Diabetes NZ by Goode PR, Auckland. For more information, or interviews, please contact: Olivia Deadman on +64 9 480 9948 or +64 21 910 022 or email olivia@goodepr.co.nz
Note to Editors: Diabetes Stats and Figures – NZ
· New Zealanders with diabetes: 253,480
· New Zealander with type 1 diabetes: 25,000 (approx. based on 10% of all cases)
· New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes: 228,000
About Diabetes NZ
Diabetes New Zealand is a charity that represents and supports people with diabetes. They have been around for over 50 years and have a national office in Wellington, and branches across the country with staff and volunteers who help people live well with diabetes.
About type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas doesn’t make insulin or cannot make good use of the insulin that is produces. Without insulin, there is no way for the body to produce energy from glucose, resulting in increased glucose levels in the blood. This increase can lead to damage to the body and failure of vital organs and tissues.
There’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. People can contract the disease at any age, when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.
About type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition whereby the pancreas either fails to produce insulin, or for the body fails to respond to insulin – a hormone that is needed to keep blood glucose at a healthy level. The condition develops over time, causing an increase in blood glucose levels in the blood. This damages parts of the body including nerves of your eyes & feet, kidneys and heart.
International evidence and guidelines show new classes of medication offer the best health outcomes for type 2 diabetes, but they are also not funded in New Zealand. The petition by Diabetes NZ is urging the government to fund this alongside CGMs.