Almost half of eligible CGM prescriptions written for Tū Ora Network in the first two weeks since funding announcement

Since the inception of funded Continued Glucose Monitors (CGM) on October 1, almost 50% of eligible people with Type 1 Diabetes enrolled with practices within the Tū Ora Practice network have received a prescription.

Within the first two weeks, 620 of the 1400 of those with Types 1 Diabetes enrolled in Tū Ora practices have received a prescription for the CGM. The funding covers those
with Type 1 Diabetes to receive a fully funded CGM by prescription from their GP or Healthcare Professional. The monitor sits on the upper arm and interacts with an app on your smartphone, giving the wearer real time numbers on their blood sugar levels. Prior to October 1, CGMs were self-funded, with many patients opting to manually test their bloods through a finger prick test.

Monitoring blood glucose is key for those with Diabetes, allowing them to administer insulin where required and adapt their diet in response to rising or falling blood glucose levels. For Type 1 diabetics, their body can’t respond with correct amounts of insulin, meaning it must be manually injected into the body. The CGM means patients can monitor their blood sugars quickly and painlessly through their own smartphone device.

Tū Ora Medical Director Dr Louise Poynton was excited both by the announcement of funded CGMs, and the fast uptake by those enrolled.

“The CGM is a game changer for people with Type 1 diabetes as it allows them to easily and quickly measure their blood glucose and act if it is required. For many patients, self-funding wasn’t an option for CGMs, and finger prick testing is painful and only provides snap-shot information instead of the much more detailed blood sugar profile on a CGM device. We know that good control of blood sugar levels protects the rest of the body from longer term complications of diabetes, and this is much easier with a CGM”

“If you are someone living with Type 1 Diabetes and are enrolled with a practice in the Tū Ora network, I encourage you to make an appointment with your GP to talk about a prescription for a CGM. You can also speak to your Diabetes Nurse Specialist. The team will be able to help you with a script and talk you through how it works” she concluded.

A patient who recently got their funded CGM said it’s already made a big difference to their lives.

“When manually testing, I could go hours without checking my bloods. Now, it’s just a quick glace at my phone, so I’m monitoring them much better. Especially when it comes to exercise, I can control them better and its easier to stay within range” they said.

“Funding CGMs has made the accessible to those who weren’t able to get them before. For the parents of young children and teenagers, it gives so much peace of mind to be able to keep an eye on their glucose levels at any point, alerting us much quicker to highs and lows.

“If you aren’t sure about getting one, you have nothing to lose! It not only helps you to better control and understand your blood glucose, but also helps your diabetes team with more information on what your trends are. This helps them help you manage your insulin intake” they said.

Funded CGM monitors are available by prescription from your GP. If you are living with Type 1 Diabetes, book an appointment to speak with them about getting a funded CGM monitor.