Government makes $100 million diabetes promise

The federal government has promised to make glucose monitoring devices free for children with type 1 diabetes and pregnant women.

The federal government will make glucose monitoring devices free for pregnant women and children with type 1 diabetes. Source: AAP

Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes will receive free access to glucose monitoring devices under a $100 million federal government commitment.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday said the additional funding would also cover children and young people with conditions similar to type 1 diabetes who require insulin.

The funding, which would be spread over the next four years, will make the free devices available to an extra 37,000 people under the National Diabetes Servies Scheme.

Glucose monitoring devices continually record a person's glucose level and alarms them if it drops below a certain point.