The federal government has committed $273 million to ease the cost of continuous and flash glucose monitoring for Type 1 Diabetes patients, in what has been praised as "a huge step for diabetes".
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CGM technology allows patients to continuously monitor and observe trends in their glucose levels via a sensor inserted under their skin.
In Tasmania, 3170 people live with Type 1 Diabetes, and a further 21,700 provide support as carers, partners and family members.
Deloraine man Daniel Webb has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 27 years. He had been advocating for more funding to be put toward the disease, specifically to insulin pumps and glucose monitors.
Using CGM in January 2021, Mr Webb said it provided far greater control over his glucose levels.
"It's difficult to emphasise just how big a difference this can make," he said.
"If your sugar level is in range you wake up feeling better, and then mentally you're feeling better about things as well as physically feeling better."
Mr Webb said for the first time in his life, he was confident that he might enjoy a "relatively normal healthy life" as he grew older.
"Rather than hoping it would happen, I'm actually confident that it may happen," he said.
Mr Webb said CGM had put him out of pocket by about $4000 per year, stacking up to about $5500 when other diabetes supplies, including his insulin pump, insulin and consumables were accounted for.
Having worked closely with the Diabetes Tasmania community, he was excited the technology would now support more Tasmanians.
Liberal candidate for Lyons Susie Bower said the plan would save patients thousands of dollars each year.
"This means everyone who needs it will have access to CGM and Flash Glucose Monitoring devices under the National Diabetes Services Scheme from 1 July 2022 for a maximum of $32.50 each month, equivalent to the cost they would already be incurring when using blood glucose test strips," she said.
Diabetes Tasmania chief executive Caroline Wells said the plan was both "life changing and life saving".
"It's going to make such a difference for all Australians living with Type 1 Diabetes," she said. "You live with diabetes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there's no respite ... It's about quality of life and how we can maximise that for people."
Ms Wells said the plan ensured equity, helping to bridge access for the 70,000 Australians going without the technology.
The technology had previously been available to those under 21, on health care cards, or pregnant and with the disease.
Ms Wells said using CGM would not only reduce short-term complications such as hypoglycaemia - low blood sugar - but also long-term complications including lower limb amputation, heart disease and kidney disease.
"This is actually about making life better for people with Type 1 Diabetes, but it's actually also about how we can keep people well out of hospital," she said.
Labor candidate for Bass Ross Hart said the Labor government would match the Liberal government's commitment.
"Whatever the election result, Tasmanians with Type 1 Diabetes will get better support. This is a testament to the campaign work of many Tasmanians who are living with Type 1 Diabetes and their families," he said.
Ms Wells said an important adjunct to the policy would be an investment in training health professionals to help diabetics get the most out of the technology.
"If we're saying that we're going to be having a lot more people wanting the technology, we actually need to make sure we've got the workforce to do that," she said.
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