Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

  For the last four years, the DANII Foundation has been knocking on politicians' doors to raise awareness of a technology that prevents type 1 diabetics dying in their sleep as a result of deadly low blood sugar, hypoglycaemia. In my electorate, Cairns mum Vicki McDonald has been a very strong advocate for making this lifesaving technology known as CGM, or continuous glucose monitor, more available. Vicki's daughter Rhianna, now 11, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of nine. Rhianna was lucky enough to trial a CGM and found it life-changing, because the CGM provides peace of mind, with early warnings of high or low blood sugar.

I am very pleased that the coalition government has now provided $54 million for the rollout of CGM technology to type 1 diabetics aged under 21 years. This move has been welcomed by families across Australia, and the DANII Foundation is now running an education and awareness national roadshow on behalf of the government. The roadshow arrives in Cairns tomorrow, 10 May, and will bring together health professionals, CGM manufacturers and also type 1 diabetics who are already using the technology. I strongly urge anyone interested in this to head along to the roadshow at Rydges Esplanade from 6.15 to 8.15 pm, tomorrow, 10 May. People must register and can register at www.danii.org.au. (Time expired)