The Federal Government has announced funding to help children with Type 1 Diabetes gain access to an insulin pump to help them manage their disease.
Speaking at the launch of the Walk to Cure Diabetes, the biggest national fundraising event of the year for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Health Minister Peter Dutton said the new total funding allocation of $1.4 million will provide insulin pump subsidies for an additional 136 children underthe Type 1 Diabetes Insulin Pump Programme.
"In addition to the 68 pumps already available under the Programme, this will now benefit over 200 children and their families over the next year."
Insulin pumps can range in cost from $4,500 to $9,500.
"The programme, which will continue to be administered by the JDRF, covers up to 80% ofthe costs of insulin pumps which can greatly assist in making this therapy affordable for young families in Australia,” said Dutton
"Having access to these small devices, which deliver a continuous level of insulin throughout the day, offers improved lifestyle and quality of life benefits for children and their families.”
“It also means that these children will avoid up to seven injections or more each day, which is painful and makes life so much harder for children already debilitated by the disease."
"The federal government is committed to the development of a new National Diabetes Strategy and we are also evaluating ways to meet our pre-election commitment to provide funding to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for much needed research to help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes,” said Mr Dutton.
__small.png)
