Diabetes patients will have a little more piece of mind thanks to a new, potentially life-saving machine.
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When the government announced funding for a Continuous Glucose Monitoring device, it came as a huge relief Type 1 diabetes patients like Maureen Ritchie.
Ms Ritchie is on dialysis at Griffith Base Hospital, where nurses have been carefully monitoring her blood sugar levels throughout the day.
In the past she had to draw blood about six times every day to get a reading, which was a painful process that didn’t give the best data.
“That’s why my fingers are so holey,” she said, displaying her injured fingers.
Now she will be able to keep a closer eye on her blood sugar levels with the help of her new device, which can give continuous readings with one simple tap.
The device will give her some piece of mind knowing that the nurses will have time to act before her blood sugars get too high or too low.
The nurses were just as excited about the high tech new gadget, which Ms Ritchie started using on Wednesday.
The $100 million funding for the machine will cover concession card holders like Ms Ritchie, but will only start in March.
In the meantime her costs will be covered by the Murrumbidgee Diabetes Association charity.
The group’s president David Mecham has been tirelessly campaigning for Type 1 diabetes funding, and he said the device would help keep people like Maureen safe.
“It’s very important and a victory for everyone,” Mr Mecham said.
Mr Mecham said he will continue pushing for more funding for Type 1 diabetes sufferers until everyone can access a Continuous Glucose Monitoring device.
He said there is still a long way to go, but that he will continue fighting to make sure people like Maureen are able to get the services they need.
“With the elections coming up next year now’s the time to start talking to politicians and getting them on board,” he said.
“It’s slowly progressing, but it takes money and more people to stand up and say ‘how about us?’”