Diabetes Scotland welcomes the announcement of up to £8.8 million additional funding for diabetes technology that has been announced by the Scottish Government. This signals a national commitment to ensuring that all children and more adults living with type 1 diabetes in Scotland will have access to closed loop system technology.
This investment and commitment from the Scottish Government has come following pressure put on health decision makers by Diabetes Scotland. We launched our Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait campaign in March 2023 to call for fair and equal access to diabetes technology across Scotland.
Thousands of people from all over the country who joined forces with us and the Tech Collective, a group of people passionate about access to diabetes technology, to raise their voices and fight for improvement in access to this vital medical equipment.
Insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and closed loop systems, have an increasingly important role in the management of type 1 diabetes and some cases of type 2 diabetes. In a closed loop system, an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor use technology to ‘talk’ to each other and adjust insulin dosing to help control blood glucose levels.
There is clear evidence that it supports people to achieve better blood glucose management, improves quality of life, and reduces the risk of complications like stroke, eye damage and kidney disease. It can improve mental health and quality of life, both for people living with diabetes and their families.
This new round of investment in diabetes care demonstrates progress towards the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase access to diabetes technologies for all who would benefit from them, set out in its Diabetes Improvement Plan, and builds on investment made by the Scottish Government in October 2023 to accelerate the distribution of closed loop systems.
John Kinnear, National Director of Diabetes Scotland said:
“This is fantastic news. It will ensure all children and more adults living with type 1 diabetes in Scotland will have access to closed loop system technology. This technology is life-changing and makes a massive difference to thousands of families the length and breadth of the country.
“Fair and equal access to diabetes technology for people living with diabetes is important as it not only transforms quality of life but could prevent people from developing complications and free up NHS resources in the long term.
"Whilst this is undoubtedly fantastic news, this still leaves many people on unacceptably long waiting lists. People who must manage this relentless condition day in day out without this vital support. We will continue working until everyone who could benefit from diabetes technology can access it.
"This achievement highlights the efforts of each and every campaigner, including those in the Tech Collective. To everyone who has campaigned as part of Diabetes Tech Can't Wait, thank you."
As Diabetes Scotland finds out more of the detail as to how this funding will be implemented, we will update this page and share on our socials @diabetesscot.
