Lisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) 14 November 2017 is World Diabetes Day,

  (ii) the theme of World Diabetes Day 2017 is women and diabetes,

  (iii) diabetes is the epidemic of the 21st century where, according to the International Diabetes Federation, 199 million women are currently living with diabetes worldwide,

  (iv) in Australia, diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition:

(A) around 1.7 million Australians have diabetes and 280 Australians develop diabetes every day, which is one person every five minutes,

(B) diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia,

(C) there are more than 4,400 amputations every year in Australia as a result of diabetes, and

(D) the total annual cost impact of diabetes in Australia is estimated at $14.6 billion,

  (v) type 1 diabetes mellitus, which accounts for 10 per cent of all diabetes diagnosis in Australia is an autoimmune condition (not lifestyle-related) affecting nearly 160 000 Australians and is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children in Australia,

  (vi) people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes require insulin for life to manage their diabetes and live with the reality of hypoglycaemic fits, diabetic ketoacidosis and even death, along with the long-term health impacts, and

  (vii) because of this, type 1 diabetes is responsible for significant financial and emotional burdens on the afflicted, their families and the community;

(b) welcomes the Government's investment in diabetes treatment and research, including the provision of free continuous glucose monitoring devices to eligible children and people under the age of 21 years with type 1 diabetes; and

(c) calls on the Government to extend this much-needed support to pregnant women and adults with severe hypoglycaemia and limited awareness of their condition who have never been able to afford the technology, and the improvements in their health and safety it would give them.

Question agreed to.