NZ diabetics risk being ‘left behind’
NEW Zealand’s most vulnerable will continue to be greatly impacted by type 1 diabetes if the Government does not make access to new insulin delivery technology a priority.
University of Otago researchers are calling for an automated insulin delivery system, paired with a continuous glucose monitoring system, to be funded after a recent study showed it to now be ‘‘the best way’’ to manage the disease.
Study leader and University of Otago (Christchurch) paediatric endocrinologist Dr Martin de Bock said open source automated delivery systems (AID) were available in New Zealand, but the critical component — continuous glucose monitoring — was not funded by drug management agency Pharmac, making it out of reach for many.
Continuous glucose monitoring technology is worn on the skin and senses changes in glucose, allowing an insulin pump and a maths programme to adjust insulin response, cutting out the need for finger prick blood testing multiple times each day.
The technology is governmentfunded in Australia and England.
Dr de Bock said 97 patients, aged 770, who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at least a year prior, were involved in the study.
For 24 weeks, 44 patients were fitted with the AID system and 53 were fitted with the traditional sensor augmented pump, and results from the final two weeks were recorded.
Patients in the AID group spent 3 hours 21 minutes longer in the target glucose range than those on the insulin pump.
Four times more people kept their glucose levels in the range that significantly reduced the chances of developing longterm complications associated with diabetes while using the automated system.
‘‘We now need to ensure that New Zealanders aren’t left behind in accessing this lifechanging technology.’’
Commercial systems were available in New Zealand but present Pharmac funding meant that only those who could afford to buy the continuous glucose monitoring, could access it.
‘‘This means that our most vulnerable will continue to be greatly impacted by type 1 diabetes, and grow the inequity we already see.
‘‘If we really want to decrease health inequity for type 1 diabetes, we need to rapidly arrange access to this technology, prioritise our workforce to engage, and train people how to use systems to get the most out of it.’’ he said.