November was Diabetes Awareness Month, with November 14th recognised as World Diabetes Day. This annual initiative, founded by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF), aims to dedicate a specific day to raising awareness about various issues relating to diabetes. Each year focuses on a different topic, and the theme for 2018 was 'The Family and Diabetes'.

This week has seen a monumental leap in diabetes funding, with the Federal Government pledging a further $100m in CGM subsidies. Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that from 31st March 2019, pregnant and breastfeeding women with gestational diabetes, as well as concession card holders over the age of 21 with Type 1 Diabetes, will have access to free Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitoring. This also includes those women planning to have a baby, covering a woman through conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

 

This investment is an expansion on both the range of people who will be subsidised, but also the devices that are made available. This includes the Freestyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitor, a device which lessens the need for finger pricks to check glucose levels with a quick, pain-free scan instead.

 

Previously, subsidies were only available to those under the age of 21, an initiative spearheaded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This latest announcement means more people in need can access life-saving technology, and have a choice of what device they wish to use. Diabetes is not a 'one-size-fits-all' condition, so variety in treatment options is very important.

 

It is our hope that in the not-so-distant future, Continuous and Flash Monitoring technology will be available to all with diabetes. Until this time however, we celebrate this news and this step in the right direction. To watch the Health Minister's full announcement on this initiative, click the button below (will redirect to Diabetes Australia's Facebook page).

Have you ever had a heart attack or stroke? Do you have poor circulation? Research has shown that treatment with Semaglutide may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in people with Type 2 diabetes. In our newest study called SELECT, we will check to see if Semaglutide reduces the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke in people who have obesity or are overweight.

 

In order to conduct this study, we need volunteers who meet the following criteria:

If you or someone you know meets the above criteria and are interested in participating in a clinical trial, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact our clinical trial coordinator Kate on (02) 4963 2323 (take option 1) or send an email by clicking the button below.