It’s World Diabetes Day, and the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes says more can be done to address the barriers faced by many in accessing diabetes care and support.
Diabetes affects an estimated 300,000 New Zealanders and Māori and Pacific communities are nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared to non-Māori or non-Pacific populations.
Rates of type 1 diabetes, which is treated with insulin, are increasing across all ethnicities.
Society chair Rosemary Hall says new insulin delivery methods and more accurate glucose monitoring techniques have transformed diabetes management, but the high cost of the technology means it’s out of reach for many.
The society is calling for funding of continuous glucose monitoring systems and insulin pumps for all those with type 1 diabetes.
