Diabetes benefits go unclaimed
According to the Australian Diabetes Council says that over 90,000 people are missing out on the discounts they are entitled to under the National Diabetes Services Scheme.
By Stephen Easton
At least 90,000 people with diabetes are missing out on discounted products and support services they are entitled to receive through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), according to the Australian Diabetes Council.
The NDSS is administered by Diabetes Australia on behalf of the federal government and delivered by a diabetes organisation in each state and territory.
In late May the CEO of the NSW-based Australian Diabetes Council, Nicola Stokes, sent out a statement asking health professionals to make sure people with the disease know they can register with the NDSS and claim the subsidies.
“Free registration on the NDSS gives Australians with diabetes access to subsidised products and services through their pharmacist or diabetes centre, so you can really make a difference to your patients by giving them the form or helping them to register,” Ms Stokes said.
“Australian Diabetes Council [in NSW], and the different diabetes organisations in each state and territory, provide diabetes support programs and NDSS products and services for all people impacted by diabetes. We’re here to help and don’t want people to miss out!”
People with diabetes, and their carers, can register by simply picking up a form from their pharmacy, diabetes centre or health clinic and having it signed by their doctor, or a Credentialled Diabetes Educator, and returning the form. The registration from is also available at www.ndss.com.au
This Sunday marks the beginning of Diabetes Awareness Week (8-14 July) and in line with the theme of prevention, the Diabetes Council is launching a new booklet of tips on how to maintain a healthy heart – which will reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and a range of other serious conditions.
The free ‘Diabetes & a Healthy Heart’ booklet will be available for download from www.australiandiabetescouncil.com as of Monday, 9 July 2012.
Diabetes is said to be Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease, and is also one of the leading contributing factors in cardiovascular diseases – a group of conditions that affect the heart, and together represent the number one killer of Australians.
According to the Council’s manager of prevention programs, Bronwyn Penny, “taking a few simple steps can dramatically reduce your risk of diabetes, stroke and heart attack”.
People with diabetes are three to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who do not have diabetes, but the message from Ms Penny is the same for everyone:
“Prevention is better than a cure. Small changes today can prevent larger health problems tomorrow.”
The Australian Diabetes Council’s simple tips to reduce your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
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Snack on fruits, unsalted nuts and seeds more often than biscuits, chocolate and chips.
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Limit alcohol to two standard drinks a day – and have some alcohol-free days.
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Reduce intake of saturated fats by choosing spreads like margarines that are made from polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats.
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Eat oily fish two or three times per week – preferably grilled – to improve blood cholesterol levels. Oily fish have dark flesh, for example: sardines, herring, tuna, salmon and trout.
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Cut down on salt and choose products with reduced or low salt. The Diabetes Council says a food is ‘low in salt’ if it contains less than 120mg per 100g.
- Choose sauces based on tomato or other low-fat ingredients, and low-fat dressings made from small amounts of polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, like sunflower, grape seed, olive or canola oils.
Anyone with questions about the National Diabetes Services Scheme or diabetes can contact Diabetes Australia on 1300 136 588.
[Correction: when first published, this article did not make it clear that the Australian Diabetes Council only administers the National Diabetes Services Scheme in New South Wales.]
