Yesterday, Aotearoa’s drug-buying agency Pharmac took the first step toward funding continuous glucose monitors. Health advocates have been fighting for years and years for this basic technology to keep diabetic children and adults alive.
Continuous glucose monitors are the norm for diabetes management in other countries. They’re so common some people overseas use them as a biohacking gimmick. But here, we are years and years behind in not funding crucial and lifesaving tech.
His message, and that of everyone else in the #cgms4all movement is simple: Continuous Glucose Monitors save lives. It’s not fair that someone can’t survive and thrive with diabetes just because they can’t afford a CGM.
I was excited to tell him the news from Pharmac - with the caveat that details of funding such as brand, eligibility criteria or a timeframe for funding has not been determined.
As the fight for CGMs has been very public and many of you have shown him huge support, he wanted to share his words here.
“When my mum told me about the news about CGMs I was so happy. I am really excited but I am also nervous. Because I want them to make sure it’s not just for kids because imagine you have diabetes and you have a CGM and then as soon as you turn 18, you don’t have a CGM anymore. When that’s when you need one because you’re leaving your mum and dad who are helping you with your diabetes to go do a job.
I didn’t think they were going to do it. I feel like I’ve been asking real nicely for so many years like probably three whole years, to help other diabetics and me.
I went to Parliament so many times. I feel a bit like angry sometimes. I got tired of having to always explain diabetes to them. I’m just a kid and that’s a lot of time to use up.
It felt good when we were together asking for CGMs for everyone but I also felt angry that they hadn’t funded it. There are a lot of other things people need that are expensive, I felt like they were listening but maybe they couldn’t do it. It was hard thinking they should just help us but also I know there were other people who needed help too. We were all so happy when they helped the kids and the adults with cystic fibrosis because even when they were sick and they didn’t have their medicine they helped us diabetics get our monitors.
But I was also tired of asking for CGMs for so long. After the budget, when they didn’t give enough money, it was really upsetting. I cried. That’s how upset I was. I cried for probably three hours.
It was really hard. Because when you have to go to Parliament to ask for things you get excited thinking they might help. But then they don’t and you get sad. So you have to go back again and again. I got a bit tired of it, I almost wanted to give up.
But then you kind of look around at all the people you’re doing it for. And you get energy again. And then the people you’re with who you are holding signs with and marching with, you get energy from them. And also you get messages from other kids and you meet them and you get energy from that too.
This is my friend Ruby who has type one diabetes too
I think you have to fight for what you think is right. And keep doing that as long as you can. Because you will have highs and lows - that sounds like a diabetic thing! I mean ups and downs.
But it is worth it. Because now they will help kids like me and also adults and maybe a kid with diabetes will never even have to go through what we did before we got CGMs and that will be worth all of the ups and downs. It’s about saving lives and not giving up I think.”
Thank you to everyone who has helped to push for funding for CGMs. We will continue to fight to make sure Pharmac includes everyone and nobody is left behind. Arohanui, The Writes Whānau
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"I feel like I’ve been asking real nicely for so many years" 😭 I hope he feels listened to finally - you must be so proud of him ❤️
Awesome mahi Eddie. Your dedication and perseverance are inspiring. X