Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices are now funded for all people with Type 1 diabetes, and other specific types of diabetes (NOT type 2 diabetes).
This funding decision will make a real difference to thousands of people and their whānau who face the daily challenges of managing their type 1 diabetes health care.
These devices will be available under Special Authority, with initial applications made by the Regional Diabetes Service. It is hoped that as many of those eligible for CGM will have scripts with current special authority numbers within a relatively short period of time.
Many have had trials of various CGM in recent months or will have been self-funding their CGM and will know what system they want. A significant number of those who have been self-funding their CGM will be operating a partial closed loop (where their insulin pump and CGM ‘talk’ to each other for automated insulin delivery), and it is imperative that they have access to funded CGM as soon as possible.
Medtronic’s brand of CGMs and insulin pumps was not included in the final approval. What this means is that from 1 January 2025 the Medtronic MiniMed 770G insulin pump will no longer be funded for people new to insulin pumps and the funding for the consumables will stop on 1 October 2026. This gives people two years to transition to another pump.
Medtronic’s brand of CGMs was not included in the final approval. What this means is that Medtronic insulin pumps and consumables will continue to be funded until October 2026. Between now and then, the DIT will be working with these patients to transition them to one of the newly funded insulin pump systems.
People are encouraged to combine their annual diabetes check with an appointment for a CGM prescription so they do not incur extra costs.
There are online webinars, for both CGM and insulin pumps for healthcare professionals and consumers, scheduled between now and the end of the year. Below are links to find out more.
Kathy Knight, Clinical Diabetes Specialist Waikato
Kathy.Knight@pinnacle.health.nz
027 642 5846
Lauren Southgate, Clinical Diabetes Specialist Taranaki
lauren.southgate@pinnacle.health.nz
027 333 8895
Kathy joined Pinnacle earlier this month as clinical diabetes specialist for Waikato, replacing the role previously held by Anne Waterman.
Read moreThis is a free online 20 week course targeted at GPs, NPs, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and allied health professionals working in diabetes in Aotearoa.
Read moreThe clinical diabetes specialist in primary care provides clinical mentorship and advice to the practice team in supporting patients with diabetes.
View detailsA guide for clinical management of type 2 diabetes, to support nurses at all levels to develop their knowledge and clinical reasoning in diabetes care.