New Resources Available for Australians with Diabetes

Health Minister Peter Dutton has launched new print and web-based resources targeting people with a high risk of suffering from diabetes.
The resources include a new healthy eating guide for older Australians with diabetes and a new booklet about type 1 diabetes and pregnancy.
The ‘Life After Gestational Diabetes’ booklet will now be available in five new translations – Arabic, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (traditional) and Chinese (simplified); along with a new web portal for information about diabetes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
New culturally appropriate information resources about the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) are also available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Mr Dutton said more Australians than ever before are living with diabetes and the  Government is  providing considerable funding support to deal with the increasing incidence of diabetes in the community.
"In 2013-14, this included $542 million through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, $17 million through the Medical Benefits Scheme, and more than $180 million through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
"The NDSS alone will cost the Government $1 billion over five years. Administered by Diabetes Australia it aims to provide timely, reliable and affordable access to products and services to assist people with diabetes to effectively self-manage their condition."
Diabetes Australia continually reviews existing services to identify gaps and explore opportunities to develop new services and resources focused on particular priority areas, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and diabetes in pregnancy.
The Australian Government also provides access to Medicare rebates for HbA1c testing to manage established diabetes.  From 1 November 2014, rebates became available for HbA1c testing for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in patients with undiagnosed diabetes who are considered at high risk of the disease.