Automated insulin delivery tech – or insulin pumps – can transform diabetes management, but the expense currently puts it out of reach for many West Australians, writes ZOE DELEUIL. Now is the time to sign a petition that hopes to change this.
It’s no secret that people living with diabetes have an additional mental load. New technology, including insulin pumps, has the potential to greatly ease that load for many people living with type 1. The problem is not everyone can afford it.
After attending a recent Diabetes WA Tech Night, Alain Watson was keen to find out more about accessing an insulin pump, which automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on CGM readings.
As someone who works full time in IT and lives with type 1 diabetes, Alain was understandably excited about how this technology might improve his diabetes management. But after crunching the numbers, he realised he couldn’t justify the cost.
“When I went spoke to different suppliers on the night, the first question I was asked was ‘do you have private health insurance’ and the second was, ‘are you covered for an insulin pump?’” Alain says.
While on the phone to his insurance company the following day, he learned that different health funds offer different options, and for insulin pumps there’s a twelve-month waiting period if you’re already living with diabetes.
“With my insurer, full hospital cover gives you more options, but there are still significant out of pocket costs to consider. For the applicable hospital cover tier, I’d need to pay an extra $40 a week. On top of that, I’d be paying for the pump itself over four years, which is a bit like a phone contract, plus consumables.”
These costs can quickly add up. Insulin pumps are covered by private health insurance cover, typically at gold or silver level, with a twelve-month waiting period if you already live with diabetes. Insulin pump consumables are subsidised by the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) for type 1 diabetes, with out-of-pocket costs estimated to be $20-$30 per month for a person without a concession card. The NDSS will also subsidise the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) often linked to a pump for just under $35 a month.
Diagnosed at 33, Alain is open about living with diabetes but understands that for some people, the fact that an insulin pump is more discreet than injections is one of its drawcards.
“I know someone who will inject insulin through his pocket to avoid people seeing it. I am very open about having diabetes – if someone wants to stare when I inject, I couldn’t care less. But not needing to inject would make life a lot easier.”
As a member of the Diabetes WA Community Network, Alain is familiar with the many extra decisions that people living with diabetes need to make each day, from counting carbs to working out how much insulin to inject after a meal.
A pump doesn’t remove all decision making but, by delivering insulin continuously for up to seven days, it removes the need for multiple daily injections. Its algorithms also respond to fluctuations in blood glucose, using glucose predictions from the continuous glucose monitor to adjust the insulin delivered, aiming to prevent highs and lows and making daily life simpler.
Insulin pumps have had many advancements in the technology and features offered. They are smaller and offer a range of options to fit your lifestyle, including waterproof and tubeless (or the option to take them off when swimming/showering), exercise modes, or features to help manage if a bolus for a meal was missed. All in all, it means a better night’s sleep for people living with diabetes, along with fewer hassles when working, swimming or exercising.
“I turn a lot in the night and would find cables hard, but one of the newer pumps doesn’t have these,” says Alain.
Alain believes subsidising this technology would greatly improve the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes.
“We can’t produce insulin. It’s weird, but the injection is your pancreas, in a way. There’s no way around it, so it would be great if we had the option to use a pump and have the need for injections removed.”
Last year’s Australian government report into the State of Diabetes Mellitus in Australia 2024 recommended improved and subsidised access to diabetes technology, including insulin pumps.
Diabetes WA CEO Melanie Gates says Diabetes WA will continue to campaign for better access and subsidised technology for all West Australians.
“We have been calling for greater access to vital diabetes technology, including continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin pumps, because we know the difference these vital technologies can make to the lives of the West Australians who are living with diabetes,” Ms Gates says.
Alain agrees.
“There’s a strong link between accessing diabetes technology and reducing the burden of living with diabetes. Subsidies would make a real difference – it’s amazing technology and I’m keen to use it to manage my diabetes. But I can’t justify it at present. I’ll stick to injecting myself for now.”
Would you like to see subsidised technology for Australians living with diabetes?
With the Australian federal election just around the corner, now’s the time to push for change and make diabetes care a national priority.
Sign the petition today and share with others to make automated insulin devices affordable for all Aussies living with type 1 diabetes. Let’s make diabetes care a priority this election!
Look out for upcoming Tech Nights
Diabetes WA runs regular Tech Night for people living with type 1 diabetes to hear about the latest technology. We invite company representatives so that people can ask questions and consider which options may be suitable for them. Sign up to our T1DE newsletter below so you’ll know when our next Tech Night is taking place.
