Diabetes Priorities
By 2026, over 500,000 Victorians will be diagnosed with diabetes. With support and resources, diabetes can be well managed, and people affected by diabetes can live long, healthy and happy lives.In recent years, we have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is not the only pandemic facing Victoria. | ![]() |
The Victorian Government has identified the need to reduce hospital admissions among people with diabetes, but currently has no clear plan on how to achieve this. We need a plan – an ambitious Victorian Diabetes Plan, focused on the urgent need to improve both the health and quality of life of all Victorians affected by, or at risk of, diabetes, and to reduce hospital admissions.
Diabetes Victoria is calling on the Victorian Government to recognise and collaborate on five key priorities to support all Victorians affected by, or at risk of, diabetes. These priorities are based on the lived experiences of over 374,000 people across Victoria who are currently living with diabetes. Add in their families, and we estimate over 1 million Victorians are directly impacted by diabetes every day.
We welcome the opportunity to work with the Victorian Government on innovations to reduce the burden of diabetes in the Victorian community and on our health system.
Glen Noonan, CEO
Diabetes Victoria
Diabetes is increasing | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Diabetes has an unequal impact on our community | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
12 things you need to know about diabetes | ||
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Summary of Five Priorities
Five priorities to improve the health and quality of life of thousands of Victorians with diabetes:Priority 1 |
Innovation in Diabetes Care |
Action 1.1 Improve diabetes care for all Victorians affected by diabetes: Collaborate with Diabetes Accelerate the translation of research into real-world treatments and approaches that |
Priority 2 |
Diabetes and Mental Health |
Action 2.1Support the mental health of Victorians living with diabetes: Invest $2.5 million to enableDiabetes Victoria to provide diabetes-specific mental health and peer support for Victorians living with diabetes, including camps for children with type 1 diabetes. Action 2.2Embed psychologists in diabetes specialist teams, to enable truly holistic and collaborativecare: Invest $2 million in an implementation trial to examine the impact of psychologists as part of the multidisciplinary diabetes care team. |
Priority 3 |
Diabetes in Hospitals |
Action 3.1Improve the safety of people with diabetes in Victoria’s hospitals by improving glucosemanagement and triage of acute events: Invest $1.2 million in an implementation trial, in three hospitals, to establish a ‘real-time diabetes dashboard’ supported by a specialist diabetes team, to provide timely, evidence-based best practice care for people with diabetes. Action 3.2Monitor the safety and experiences of inpatients with diabetes: Invest $500k to initiate a statewide audit of hospital inpatient care for people with diabetes, linked to quality improvement. |
Priority 4 |
Diabetes and Equity |
Action 4.1Ensure all children with diabetes have equitable access to education and related opportunities: Ensure no child is turned away from a government school due to their diabetes; provide special supports for students with diabetes on school camps and during exams.Action 4.2Reduce diabetes stigma and discrimination in Victoria’s workplaces: Invest $4 million over four years to produce, disseminate and evaluate tailored communications to ensure people with diabetes are protected wherever they work. |
Priority 5 |
Prevention and Remission of Type 2 Diabetes |
Action 5.1Increase the health of the general population to reduce exposure of known modifiable risksfor type 2 diabetes: Remove all unhealthy food and drink advertising from public transport and across all Victorian government owned assets. Action 5.2Increase the support for people at risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Invest$1 million to strengthen referral pathways between Local Public Health Units and the Life! program; and invest $2 million in research on the prevention of type 2 diabetes, with a focus on reducing health inequities among men, women peri/post menopause and people who are LGBTIQA+. Action 5.3Optimise type 2 diabetes care from diagnosis: Invest $5 million in a regional implementationtrial to put type 2 diabetes into remission. |
Diabetes. Testing Times.
Diabetes Priorities
Open Letter to Government
November 2022
To: Premier Andrews
Minister for Health
Minister for Education
Minister for Mental Health
Cc: All MPs
RE: Community Call for a Victorian Diabetes Plan
On behalf of the more than 374,000 Victorians living with diabetes and their families, we call upon the government to make an election commitment to develop a Victorian Diabetes Plan to prioritise support for Victorians living with diabetes.
Diabetes is an extremely serious and complex set of conditions that require daily self-care. Currently, there is no cure for any type of diabetes. All types of diabetes have long-term health implications, which can reduce both quality and length of life.
The Victorian Government knows that one in four people in Victoria’s hospitals has diabetes.
It has identified the need to reduce hospital admissions among people with diabetes. But it currently has no clear plan on how to achieve this.
We need a plan – an ambitious Victorian Diabetes Plan – focused on the urgent need to improve both the health and quality of life of all Victorians affected by, or at risk of, diabetes.
A Victorian Diabetes Plan would identify the key priorities affecting Victoria’s healthcare system and economy.
It would set goals for achieving short, medium and long-term targets. Such a plan would empower health systems, health professionals and researchers to realise and address the priorities, and aim for and meet the targets.
In the past two years, we have all been acutely aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we must not ignore the other pandemic: diabetes. One in five COVID-19 deaths has been among people with pre-existing diabetes. People with diabetes have been far more likely than the general population to be hospitalised, and experience very serious complications.
This request is critical because diabetes is increasing at a faster rate than any other chronic condition and remains one of the biggest challenges confronting our health system. Unlike many other similarly serious conditions, diabetes has an image problem, so it does not receive the funding or attention it deserves. Now is the time to remedy this situation.
In the lead up to World Diabetes Day on 14th November 2022, there is a timely opportunity to announce a commitment to a Victorian Diabetes Plan, as one of your government’s key election commitments for health.
We request your urgent attention to this matter. All Members of Parliament need to consider the health and well-being of all people with, or affected by, diabetes in Victoria – they represent over one million Victorians, one fifth of the electorate.
This letter is signed and supported by Victoria’s leaders in diabetes, who are deeply concerned by the lack of prioritisation of diabetes in Victoria over many years. They include specialists in endocrinology, diabetes education, primary care, public health, epidemiology, psychology, as well as philanthropy, the leaders of professional associations, and universities.
Together, we are united to support, empower and campaign for people living with, or at risk
of, diabetes.
We call on you to commit to working with us to bring to fruition a Victorian Diabetes Plan.
Yours sincerely
Glen Noonan,
Chief Executive Officer: Diabetes Victoria
Adjunct Professor: Deakin University
Take Action
Contact your local MP now to make diabetes care and support a priority!Email your local MP asking for their commitment to Victorians living with, or at risk of diabetes.
If you need some guidance, you can refer to the following email template; |
Dear <insert name of local member>, |
To read the media release click here.

Media Contacts
|
|