Living with diabetes comes with financial costs that most people never see, writes diabetes educator and pharmacist TARA SAVAGE. But Diabetes WA is here to help. 

Around 250,000 West Australians live with this condition, which includes type 1, type 2, gestational and other types of diabetes. For many, managing it means paying for medications, monitoring equipment, medical appointments and diabetes technology to help keep them well.

Depending on the type of diabetes and the support a person needs, those costs can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.

And for someone who has just been diagnosed, working out what they need to pay for – and what support they can access – can be challenging.

Most medications prescribed for managing diabetes are subsidised through the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.) This includes insulin, which people with type 1 diabetes require every day, as do some people with type 2 and gestational diabetes.

While medications are subsidised and needles are available free through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), other costs can quickly mount.

Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, are one example. For people with type 1 diabetes, they cost around $35 a month through the NDSS – about $420 a year – although they are free for concession card holders.

But people with type 2 or gestational diabetes are not currently eligible for the same subsidy and can pay around $120 a fortnight, or more than $3,100 a year.

For people using insulin pumps, the upfront cost can be higher again. A pump can cost around $8,000 to $10,000, with most people taking out top-level private health insurance to cover this cost.

There can also be other ongoing expenses such as sharps containers, testing strips, meters, device patches, cool bags for insulin and extra supplies when travelling.

On their own, some of these costs may not seem significant. Together, they can become a substantial household expense.

Living with diabetes can also mean more health appointments. People may need to see their GP, diabetes educator, podiatrist, dietitian, pharmacist, endocrinologist or other health professionals as part of their ongoing care.

Some of that care can be subsidised. For example, eligible people can access subsidised allied health appointments through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.

But knowing what support exists, what you are eligible for and how to access it is not always straightforward.

That’s one reason registering with the NDSS is so important. Yet of the close to 250,000 people living with diabetes in Western Australia, only around 152,000 are currently registered with the scheme. This gap is particularly pronounced in remote and First Nations communities.

Knowing where to start

Navigating what support is available can be overwhelming, especially when you’re newly diagnosed. What equipment do I need? What subsidies and support am I eligible for? What does the NDSS cover?

As the peak state body for diabetes in Western Australia, Diabetes WA offers an affordable place to start.

The free Diabetes WA Helpline gives people the opportunity to ask a diabetes educator any questions around diabetes management as well as available services and subsidies.

Diabetes WA also provides free group education programs across Western Australia, covering medications, food, carbohydrates and foot care, as well as DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) for people living with type 2 diabetes and OzDAFNE, which teaches people with type 1 diabetes how to adjust their insulin in relation to their food intake and lifestyle.

This self-management approach aims to increase people’s confidence and capability in managing their diabetes themselves.

Diabetes WA’s Telehealth service has increased access to diabetes care for those in rural and regional WA for decades, complementing existing local services.

We also offer LISTEN via Telehealth, a free, evidence-based program that helps you build practical skills to manage diabetes-related stress and improve your emotional wellbeing.

Since 2024, Diabetes WA Connect has helped patients receive care closer to home. With this service, a patient’s GP speaks directly to an endocrinologist and/or diabetes educator for advice and questions around diabetes management, for free, without the need for a hospital referral.

For people living in regional WA, these are cost-effective alternatives to travelling to Perth for a hospital appointment. For people living in metropolitan areas who may have other barriers to attending hospital endocrinology appointments, such as transport, or where the waitlist is long, Diabetes WA Connect is also available, and we encourage people to ask their GP about this option.

Do you have a question about diabetes? Talk to us

Making sure people can find the right information, subsidies and care is an important part of our mission to help West Australians live well with diabetes.

Because while diabetes can be challenging, it doesn’t have to stand in the way of a fulfilling life.

For more information call the free Diabetes WA Helpline on 1300 001 880.