Health NZ’s Diabetes Roadmap released today includes plans for a National Diabetes Register.
It also suggests creating new pathways to for people to get weight-loss surgery, and increasing access to medicines.
The SMC asked experts to comment.
Associate Professor Lynne Chepulis, Te Wānanga Waiora|Division of Health, University of Waikato, comments:
“The National Diabetes Roadmap is a timely and necessary step toward addressing one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most pressing long-term health challenges.
“It’s great to see strategic investment in early intervention and prevention, particularly given that even modest improvements in glycaemic control and earlier diagnosis can substantially reduce costly complications such as renal failure, amputations and cardiovascular disease.
“Importantly, our local research strongly supports the importance of kaiāwhina for optimising healthcare engagement and management of type 2 diabetes for high needs communities, including for Māori and Pacific peoples who unfortunately carry a greater burden of disease. Our teams have demonstrated the value of kaiāwhina embedded in primary care services, and the value of culturally-informed healthcare cannot be underestimated.
“However, the success of this Roadmap will depend on whether we are able to prioritise, plan and deliver as indicated. It will be critical to assess not only clinical outcomes but also cost-effectiveness, workforce sustainability and the real-world impact to ensure that the roadmap delivers as expected.
“There is a real need to reduce the burden and inequities of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Aotearoa, and the Roadmap provides an opportunity for evidence-driven action for all of Aotearoa.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I receive diabetes research funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand and receive funding and/or products from external organisations (Dexcom Inc and Abbott Laboratories).”