Being Heard Campaign
The issues facing people with diabetes in Australia
Diabetes and discrimination
People with diabetes face discrimination at all levels – in school, at work and in the community. Discrimination often occurs because employers and staff are not adequately informed about diabetes and how well it is managed. Australian Diabetes Council is committed to protecting the rights of people with diabetes and to end discrimination by providing information and advice through our Advocacy Officer.
A person with diabetes should have the right to be dealt with on an individual basis to determine his or her fitness for work, insurance, driving or participation in school or other activities.
Diabetes and the Work Place
People qualified for a job should not be denied employment simply because they have diabetes. Their health status requires individual assessment. People with diabetes should be eligible for employment in any occupation for which they are qualified. They have a right to be assessed for specific duties on their merits, based on reasonable standards, applied consistently.
People with diabetes should be able to get reasonable access to certain facilities, e.g. a suitable place to inject insulin or test blood glucose in order to look after their health while working. Minor changes to routine should be permitted to allow for needs such as time to check blood glucose levels (BGL) or have a snack to treat a hypo.
Legislation passed in Australia makes discrimination based on disability against the law. In general, all people have the right to apply for - and be fairly considered for - jobs, apprenticeships and traineeships on the basis of merit.
An employer is not allowed to refuse employment because of a person's disability.
Diabetes and Insurance
People with diabetes should be able to access adequate insurance coverage of all types, at a reasonable cost.
Australian Diabetes Council has reached an agreement with an insurance company to provide an insurance product specifically designed for the diabetes market. It came after many years of frustration for people with diabetes and lengthy discussions with a number of companies in the insurance sector.
There are still some types of insurance denied to people with diabetes and we continue to seek solutions to this problem.
In general, insurance underwriters have not kept up with current management practices or the prognoses for people with diabetes. They automatically regard diabetes as an acceptable risk. As a result, discrimination may exist simply on the basis of the diagnosis.
However, with rights come responsibilities for people with diabetes, e.g. take medications, keep appointments with health professionals, maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a responsible attitude to activities such as driving and alcohol.
Diabetes and Driving
Driving is an important part of life for people with diabetes. They have the right to be assessed on an individual basis for a licence to drive a motor vehicle.
While the overwhelming majority is able to safely operate a vehicle, licensing regulations have been introduced to cover certain aspects such as medications and insulin.
Austroads, the road transport and traffic safety authority for Australia and New Zealand, has developed guidelines for medical practitioners to help assess their patients' fitness to drive. Each state has regulations covering licence applications.
Diabetes and School
Children with type diabetes have the right to participate in all aspects of school life. These children are sometimes denied the opportunity to take part in school activities based on incorrect perceptions about diabetes.
School personnel or other carers of children should possess a basic knowledge about diabetes and be able to recognise and respond to hypoglycaemia. This may require children to eat in class and be provided with appropriate assistance.
Parents or carers should take an active role in educating their child’s teachers and classmates about diabetes and the specific needs of the child.
Through its school education program, Australian Diabetes Council works with schools and education authorities to provide teachers and parents with accurate and current information about diabetes and its management. Visit DiabetesKidsAndTeens.com.au for more information.
Schools have a legal responsibility to protect all children in their care, including those with special health needs.
To protect children with diabetes in schools, clear and regular communication between home and school is essential. Teachers need to encourage children to test their BGL and regularly eat carbohydrates. They need to be aware of hypo symptoms and treat them immediately, and to prepare the child for sports and playschool activity.
Parents and schools should discuss implementing a written management plan and a school visit to educate teachers to manage a child with diabetes.
In general, healthy eating should be part of school life - an important aspect in preventing type 2 diabetes.
Advocacy and Government
Australian Diabetes Council works with Government to improve access to care for people with diabetes, support the introduction of new treatments and to support medical services across the state. These areas include aged care, schools and lifestyle activities. In our advocacy strategies, we address the problem of staffing in diabetes centres, especially the shortage of diabetes health professionals in rural and remote areas.
Following lobbying by the organisation, a major leap forward was achieved in 1986 when the Federal Government introduced the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), which provides subsidised insulin syringes and blood testing strips. In 2000, free syringes were introduced. We continue to manage the NDSS, which provides a unique service to more than 308,000 people registered with the scheme in New South Wales.
We continue to build and develop relationships with Government, both state and federal.
Diabetes and essential public services
Anti-discrimination laws protect the rights of people with a disability to obtain goods and services from such places as shops, restaurants, banks, government departments, hospital and public transport.
People with diabetes have a right to expect essential services personnel, including police, ambulance and transport services to possess basic knowledge about hyperglycaemia and its implications. They need to be able to recognise these events and respond appropriately. We have liaised with ambulance and police services to produce an educational DVD to assist in this area.
Airline travel
New travel restrictions apply to everyone who travels by air and people with diabetes need to be aware that special provisions may apply to them. Australian Diabetes Council meets with airline authorities to discuss how security regulations affect people with diabetes.
Inform your travel agent of your diabetes when arranging travel plans. It is also recommended that you contact the airline to inform them of your diabetes and clarify their policy on carrying medical equipment and medication.
Sharps disposal
Considerable discussions have been held with health authorities, local councils and pharmacies around NSW to institute a coordinated sharps disposal scheme across NSW.
Diabetes and scams
People with diabetes are often targeted with offers of miracle cures, magic treatments and breakthrough diets. Some provide exotic solutions with age- old remedies and supplements, Many are internet based. Be wary of them all. Follow the standard advice - if it’s too good to be true - it generally is. Discuss with your doctor or health professional before starting any of these treatments.
Action to take – Being Heard
We receive numerous complaints every year from people with diabetes who experience discrimination in all areas of life - the work place, education, in sport, obtaining insurance, travelling or driving.
We have been able to provide information and assistance in cases where the rights of people with diabetes have been violated. Our primary role is to improve knowledge of diabetes and meaningful results are most often achieved through discussion and negotiation.
In some cases, we have been able to achieve significant breakthroughs to end discriminatory practices.
People with diabetes want to be heard. As part of our advocacy role, we have an initiative called ‘Being Heard’. We are strongest when people with diabetes join together with one voice to deliver change.
If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact the Advocacy Officer for Australian Diabetes Council on 1300 342 238.
Keep all information and documents that relate to your complaint.
Access to Health Services
Easing the burdens of access and cost
Diabetes is a disease where an up-front investment can result in significant future savings to the health-care system. Although continuing education and advice are vital to understanding and managing diabetes, often many people with diabetes never receive appropriate education about diabetes and self-care. Diabetes management requires an around-the-clock commitment and the benefits can be great as effective management can delay or even prevent the onset of complications.
Australian Diabetes Council runs a telephone careline from 8:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays for people with diabetes to discuss management questions with Health Professionals - Educators, Exercise Physiologists and Dietitians.
Two important studies have shown definitively that regardless of the type of diabetes, a policy of intensive glycemic control is highly beneficial.
In order to delay or prevent the chronic complications of diabetes, people with diabetes should have equal and timely access to the best possible medication, supplies and devices at affordable cost regardless of where they live in Australia.
It is in the best interests of Government, community and people with diabetes to continue to ensure that issues of access and cost are never barriers to effective diabetes management.
Community awareness strategies regarding risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as lifestyle strategies are important for the entire population, particularly those at risk. This will lead to less discrimination in the future for everyone in the community.
Nutrition
Healthy food choices are essential for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Healthy food choices should be accessible to all people in Australia.
To support people in choosing healthy food, prices need to be reasonable and the food needs to be readily available, e.g. availability of fresh vegetables to remote areas.
Smoking
People with diabetes should be informed of the risk related to smoking and exposure to smoke, as well as available treatment options.
In Australia, there is legislation to protect citizens from exposure to smoke in public places.
Disposal of sharps
As an environmental and public health issue, it should be the responsibility of government to ensure a system for the safe and convenient disposal of household generated sharps, and to assume costs for such disposal.