Help Expand Access to Life-Changing Diabetes Technology
Access to diabetes technology shouldn’t depend on your diagnosis.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is life-changing, but for many Australians, it’s still out of reach. That could soon change. Two new proposals could expand access to this vital tech, and your voice can help make it happen.
Read on and find out how you can get involved before 13 June.
People with all types of diabetes should have equitable access to affordable diabetes technologies.
At Diabetes Victoria, we hear every day from people about the transformative impact of diabetes technologies and that access needs to be expanded. The recent Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes also supported this position.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology allows people living with diabetes to monitor their glucose levels in real time. They are able to monitor glucose levels closely, potentially avoiding serious and sometimes, life-threatening complications, including hypoglycaemia.
In 2022, the federal government expanded access to subsidised CGM for all Australians with type 1 diabetes over the age of 21, via the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). Without subsidies, the cost of CGM is up to $5000 per year, and remains out of reach for thousands of Australians living with other types of diabetes.
This may be about to change.
The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) is currently reviewing two important submissions that could significantly improve access to CGM technology for people living with diabetes in Australia.
Who is MSAC?
MSAC is an independent body that advises the Australian Government on which medical services and technologies should be publicly funded. Right now, they are considering two applications that could expand subsidised access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring through the NDSS.
Dexcom and Abbott have submitted applications calling for broader access to CGM, so that more people, like those with type 2 diabetes who use insulin, gestational diabetes, or type 3c diabetes, can benefit from this life changing technology.
You can make a difference
MSAC is inviting public input on both applications, and the consultation period is open until 11:59pm on Friday, 13 June 2025.
This is a chance for people with lived experience of diabetes, whether you live with the condition yourself or support someone who does, to share your story.
Your thoughts can give decision-makers more of an understanding into the real-world impact of CGM and why access matters.
Get involved
Provide your feedback by completing the consultation surveys available on the MSAC website:
- Dexcom Application – MSAC Consultation
- Abbott Application – MSAC Consultation
We encourage you to speak from the heart. Share what access to CGM would mean for your health, your family, your daily life, and your future. Together, we can help ensure that everyone who needs this technology has the opportunity to benefit from it.
