About 17,000 people living with type 1 diabetes in Aotearoa are a step closer to having access to fully-funded life-saving devices.
Pharmac is seeking bids from suppliers of continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps in the hopes of offering them free of charge next year.
Type 1 diabetes advocate Ruby McGill leads a busy life, and it's not just work or children that keep her on her toes. She lives with type 1 diabetes too.
"It's non-stop, 24-7, there are no days off. And despite following all the rules, it has a life of its own," McGill told Newshub.
But little devices - an insulin pump connected to a continuous glucose monitor - are making life simpler for diabetics.
"The two - they talk to each other."
It tracks McGill's blood sugar levels and provides insulin when needed.
"Our blood sugar levels can change so quickly, so continuous glucose monitors [are a] life-changer," she said.
The problem is they're expensive.
"So many people are going without and will never experience the benefits of these devices."
But that could be about to change, according to Pharmac's chief medical officer Dr David Hughes.
"We're announcing a request for proposal, so we're seeking bids from suppliers for a range of items for type 1 diabetes," he told Newshub.
It's a big step towards Pharmac covering the cost of the devices for Kiwis living with the disease, and it has now entered a commercial procurement process.
"We're feeling positive," said Dr Hughes.
So too is Heather Verry, CEO of Diabetes New Zealand.
"This is a significant milestone for people with diabetes. We're absolutely delighted."
The bidding process for device manufacturers closes mid-August, after which an evaluation process will begin.
"It will take them a little while to do the evaluation - and we hope that it doesn't get derailed, and that early next year it will be full funding," Verry told Newshub.
But McGill has her fingers crossed.
"[There's] still a long way to go, but this feels like a massive step in the right direction," she said.
Not only for McGill, but for the thousands of others who live with type 1 diabetes.
