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Diabetes is a relentless and debilitating disease affecting more than 1.3 million Australians, a staggering 1 in 20 people. With its prevalence on the rise, the demand for effective treatments and regular medical care is becoming increasingly urgent. The Australian government has responded to this growing health crisis by including crucial health measures in the recent Federal Budget, aimed at providing cost of living relief for diabetics.

While these initiatives represent a step in the right direction, much more needs to be done to combat this epidemic—especially in disadvantaged communities where the burden of diabetes is felt most acutely. Considering that standardised, one-dimensional approaches are largely ineffective for tackling diabetes in remote, vulnerable communities, any meaningful attempt to address this issue must crucially involve direct engagement with local residents to understand their perspectives.

In this endeavour, government leaders in Australia and the broader region should look to civil society organisations to help embed a localised, inclusive model of healthcare provision. As providing the right medicine is only one part of a more holistic, sustainable strategy, collaborating with service organisations will enable public authorities to better meet the unique needs of remote or disadvantaged communities.

The government is not enough 

Given the urgency of Australia’s diabetes problem, the Government has sprung to action, with the new Federal Budget allocating $3.7 million to the Insulin Pump Program, specifically targeting financially disadvantaged Australians under 21 with type 1 diabetes. Crucially, this subsidy will help young Australians access life-saving insulin pumps, which can significantly improve their quality of life and long-term health outcomes. Furthermore, the budget includes $6.5 million for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)’s Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, funding vital research projects already in progress.

Yet, despite these positive developments, raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding diabetes remain critical. Indeed, many people mistakenly believe diabetes is solely a consequence of poor lifestyle choices, underscoring the importance of holistic models to tackle diabetes. As the Australian Diabetes Society CEO Sof Andrikopoulos laments, “there’s a perception it’s solely caused by lifestyle: it’s your fault you have diabetes because you’re fat or because you’re eating crap,” when, in reality, “all forms of diabetes are a genetic disposition.”

This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking the help and support they need, exacerbating the health and social challenges they face. Despite the new budget, it is clear that Canberra has been trying to limit spending as much as possible amid fiscal headwinds. With the availability of funding for social programs often limited in the current climate, the work of service organisations has become all the more important for picking up the slack.

Civil society organisations stepping up

Case in point is Lions Clubs International (LCI), an international service organisation whose essential work across the Asia-Pacific has helped improve the lives of countless diabetics. LCI has made the fight against diabetes one of its primary missions, offering type 2 diabetes screening, support groups, training camps and eye screenings to prevent diabetes-related blindness in Australia.

As Alexis Vincent Gomès, a candidate for Third International Vice President of the LCI in the Melbourne-held elections set for 22-25 June, passionately asserts, combating diabetes is “one of three major challenges the LCI must address in the coming years” in addition to the “fight against hunger and ensuring potable water” in communities cut off from vital public services and infrastructure.

Throughout his many years of dedicated service within the LCI, marked by leadership positions including Club Secretary and President, District Governor and International Director, Gomès has made inclusive healthcare provision a core operational priority. In countries including Nigeria, Lebanon and his native Congo Brazzaville, Gomès has notably led projects to finance new hospitals and ambulances in remote communities, which he says have “significantly improved healthcare access in these regions.”

Given his campaign’s thematic focus on youth development and engagement, and geographic focus on Africa, South Asia and Oceania, Gomès would use his international vice presidency role to progress an early-life, preventative and education-driven approach to diabetes in these rapidly-growing regions, capitalising on the reach and community-level ties of the LCI.

Fighting diabetes in New Zealand

LCI’s efforts extend beyond Australia, with impactful initiatives also taking place in New Zealand. In New Zealand, diabetes is particularly prevalent among the Māori and Pacific Islander communities, groups which face stark health disparities.

A recent report has highlighted that within two decades, a quarter of New Zealand’s Pacific peoples could be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)—a decade earlier than other New Zealanders, and often with more severe complications. Meanwhile, this alarming trend is mirrored among the Māori, who suffer from T2D at twice the rate of other ethnicities in New Zealand.

Rightly recognising that this crisis demands immediate, targeted action, New Zealand has implemented social programs that bring together healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups and the Labour Pasifika Caucus. These programs have been instrumental in assisting PHARMAC, the country’s medicines funding agency, to incorporate ethnicity as a criterion for access to type 2 diabetes medications under the New Zealand subsidised medicines program.

This groundbreaking initiative was the first to prioritise vulnerable communities in healthcare delivery. As a result, approximately 25,000 Māori and Pasifika patients with type 2 diabetes received effective medication within the first 12 months. Crucially, this success has paved the way for ethnicity to be considered in other healthcare priorities, ensuring that these communities receive the attention and care they need.

Making a difference

Considering the strong interconnection between social and health factors that come together in making diabetes such a dangerous and difficult disease, it is obvious that the fight against diabetes requires a sustainable and multifaceted approach.

Increased funding, public awareness campaigns and community support are all vital components in addressing this growing health crisis. Australia’s funding and research commitments constitute a promising start, but the involvement of civil society and local communities is equally crucial.

Indeed, international service organisations like LCI play a pivotal role in these endeavors, offering hope and tangible assistance to those affected by diabetes. Moving forward, a united and determined approach will be key in addressing the challenges posed by diabetes and improving the lives of millions of Australians and New Zealanders across all communities.

 

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