Over b people in Australia are affected by disability, with 32% of this number people who have a severe or profound disability, and of the 23% of people with disability, their main form of disability is mental or behavioral. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2009, an estimated 827,020 people in Australia had diabetes. Of these, 43% reported that diabetes was the health condition causing them the most problems and 53% reported they had a disability. A person’s disability can make it harder for them to look after their diabetes.

If a Participant is diagnosed with Diabetes, a doctor or diabetes nurse can create A Diabetes Care Plan for them. The NDIS can only fund diabetes support if the diabetes is related to a Participant’s disability. However, if the participant is having trouble managing their diabetes because of their disability, the NDIS can fund other supports that is called “Diabetes Management Supports”

Type of Supports that can be funded by the NDIS under Diabetes Management Support

Diabetes Management Supports falls under the criteria of Disability Health Supports by the NDIS. Given that the Australian health system provides health services to everyone for illness or chronic illness condition. The NDIS can only offer diabetes support if it is related to a participant’s disability or if it is causing some challenges to a participant because of their disability.

Below are some supports that can be funded by the NDIS under Diabetes Management Support:

• Providing a nurse to create a disability-related diabetes management plan which explains the support a Participant needs to follow your Diabetes Care Plan.

• Training for support workers for diabetes management needs.

• A support worker to monitor glucose levels and give the Participant insulin or other diabetes medication.

• Access to assistive technology to help participants manage diabetes is not provided by the health care system.

If a Participant really needs a disability management plan, and they are eligible according to the NDIS funding criteria, they can be funded by a nurse that would create a disability-related management plan for a Participant. This may include funding for:

• an initial consultation

• a nurse to write the plan

• a nurse to review the plan and make any changes you need.

For assistive technology in managing diabetes, Participants need to go through the National Diabetes Services Scheme or the health care system. The NDIS will only include the assistive technology for managing diabetes given with the evidence that:

• The assistive technology will reduce the need for other supports, such as a support worker or nurse.

• It will help the participant be more independent a participant’s diabetes because of disability.

• The participant will need to provide evidence to the NDIS, and it must meet the NDIS funding criteria.

How can Sublime Care Support Participants in Managing their Diabetes

From a Clinical standpoint, we can support Participants with Diabetes Management as long as the Participant has a current and valid Diabetes Management Plan which has been developed in partnership with the participant, their family/carer, and any relevant health professionals (with the consent of the participant/family) by a nominated health practitioner specifically for the participant’s needs.

The plan will include:

• the type of Diabetes

• frequency of blood glucose monitoring

• the nature and frequency of the injection/ medication, dosage, and who will deliver it

• timeframes for review by a health professional,

• an Action Plan to address any incident or emergency in relation to diabetic management (any potential or actual risks involved and how incidents and emergencies are managed and actions/procedures to refer any situation that requires further expertise to the appropriate agency or health professional).

• individual blood glucose level target parameters set by the medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, or credentialled diabetes educator (CDE)

Discussing your NDIS needs

Sublime Care provides an obligation-free consultation in the comfort of your own home, with the purpose of listening and understanding your needs. We’ll give you the best choices for your needed support, which you can freely explore, choose, and control. 

As a registered NDIS service provider, we provide Disability services in New South Wales in the following areas: Hunter Region, Central Coast, and Sydney. If you do not see the location where you are looking for a Community Care service, we encourage you to contact us to see if we could coordinate with a community care provider in the location of your choice.