Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes. From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in the CGM Initiative will have the option of using the new Dexcom G6 CGM device, as the current Dexcom G5 CGM device is phased out.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said around 1.8 million people in Australia live with diabetes and more than 120,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year.
“CGM measures glucose levels to gain insight into patterns and trends—day and night. Monitoring blood glucose levels helps prevent both short-term and long-term health complications including heart attacks and strokes, amputations, kidney failure and preventable blindness,” Minister Hunt said.
To minimise the impact of this change, the listing for the G6 has been expanded so that all people eligible to participate in the CGM Initiative can access this option. So, In addition, existing G5 users—about 7,500 people—will be automatically transitioned to G6 on 1 March to avoid any delays receiving their CGM product.
All products, including the new G6, provided under the CGM initiative remain free of charge for all under 21 year olds.
Last November, the Government released the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 to drive real improvements in the prevention, early detection, management, and care of people with diabetes.
With approximately one in twenty Australians affected by diabetes, the new strategy will bring together the latest research and evidence to ensure people living with diabetes, their family and carers have access to care, treatments and support where and when they need it.
Advocacy Action: Is your country doing enough introducing new technology, such as CGM and flash monitoring, to those who would benefit from them? Could you persuade your government to fund a pilot project for children, or all under 21 year olds, or others groups that could benefit if univeral support is not possible? * CGM monitors your sugar levels continuously and sends data to your display device (a hand-held monitor or pump). So you can set alerts for high, low or rate of change. With flash glucose monitoring it’s only when you scan your sensor that you get your reading and trends