#AccessForAll: JDRF launches new campaign to increase access to life saving and life changing technology

Life-saving and life-changing technologies to measure blood glucose and deliver insulin in response to need are the foundation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment and care in the 21st century.

But in Australia, access to these technologies is inconsistent, inequitable, and incomplete. Even worse, they cut out for many on adulthood.

This needs to change. JDRF’s #AccessForAll campaign aims to make type 1 diabetes technology affordable and accessible for everyone who wants it. This means increasing coverage of insulin pumps (tubed and patch) and glucose monitors (CGM and Flash GM).

In the leadup to the 2022 Federal Election, JDRF Australia is mobilising the Australian T1D community to persuade all sides of politics to commit to providing increased access to these technologies as a basic standard of care for the more than 125,000 Australians living with T1D. And to ensure that their access to that standard of care is not determined by birthdate or bank balance, but by professional advice and personal preference.

It is not acceptable, equitable or justifiable that access to these devices is dictated by age or wealth rather than need and benefit. Or that the pathway for assessing innovative new treatments is complex, challenging, expensive, and time-consuming.

Why this approach?

Increasing and retaining access to diabetes technologies has a significant impact on quality of life for patients and reduces the costs of T1D to the individual and the economy in the longer term. CGMs and pumps are proven to help manage blood sugar levels, reducing the likelihood of dangerous highs and lows in the short term, and of costly and damaging complications in the longer-term. For example, the lifetime cost of T1D for individuals with complications is five times that of individuals with complications.

All up, T1D costs the Australian community $2.7bn each year, making the investment of $100m per year good for the economy, good for families, and good for every individual with T1D.

We need increased availability and access, and a change of focus to what’s best for the patient, not what their pocket can afford or how old they are. This is good for individuals, good for families, and good for Australia.

We need #AccessForAll. And we need it now.

For more information or to get involved, sign up to our advocacy newsletter below, we’ll keep you updated on the campaign and how you can support #AccessForAll. If you are already signed up, keep an eye out for updates!