One of my bookmarked pages is this:

This is a public page and lists all open consultations from the Australian Government Department of Health.

I know. I live the exciting life.

I have it marked and check the page regularly to see if there are any consultations that are of interest to me and on which I would like to comment. The consultations I respond to are not necessarily diabetes-related, but then, my health is not always diabetes-related…

At the moment, however, there is a very diabetes-related consultation underway and I would encourage anyone affected by diabetes to take a few moments to fill in the survey.

The Department of Health is currently evaluating the FreeStyle Libre, specifically to consider whether it is suitable for subsidisation under the NDSS. (The consultation is happening following a submission to the Department for subsidisation of the product.)

An Assessment Panel will be set up to consider the submission, but before they meet, the Department is seeking comments from consumers and other stakeholders about the product.

You can take part by completely a very short survey. You need to provide some personal details (name, address, phone number and email address). There is one comment box for thoughts for the Assessment Panel to consider. You are asked to think about how diabetes impacts your quality of life; if you’ve used the Freestyle Libre, did it improve your diabetes management; what are your personal experience of using the device and any benefits or negative affects you may have noted; If you’ve not used the device, what would you expect it to do if you did. You are also asked to write about other devices and tools you use to manage diabetes and think about how they benefit your management.

Some things to consider when filling in the consultation survey:

  • Be honest about your experiences. You don’t have to have used the Libre to complete the survey. This is for anyone who is affected by diabetes and would like to weigh in on whether or not they believe the product should be subsidised.
  • Stay on topic! This is about Freestyle Libre, so it’s not really the time to say that you want a fully-funded artificial pancreas delivered to your door now please. (And just further to that, it’s not the time to lobby for the expansion of the NDSS CGM Initiative. Comments that are not relevant to the issue at hand usually get ignored. Stay.On.Topic.)
  • Try to use really clear language and don’t assume the person reading what you have written knows a great deal about diabetes. It’s likely that the Assessment Panel will include people who do know a great deal about diabetes, but the people from the Department conducting the initial consultation may not. So, don’t use abbreviations and acronyms, or jargon and diabetes slang.
  • This is the opportunity for people with diabetes to have their say. Health professionals are also invited to participate in the consultation, but obviously, their perspective is going to be very different to someone who is actually wearing the device to help manage their diabetes. What you have to say can’t be found in glossy brochures or opinions of those working with diabetes. Use the opportunity to really share your thoughts.
  • So, your experience about actually wearing the device, the accuracy of it, how it has changed your diabetes management (if at all), why you do or don’t like it, the devices convenience (or lack thereof), the best and worst aspects of it are really, really valuable.

The consultation is open until 17 July and can be accessed via this link. Please share with anyone you think may be interested.

DISCLOSURES

None! I’m sharing this information because I know a lot of people who are interested in this device and because many are frustrated at how expensive it is.