Access to diabetes drugs in New Zealand is inadequate

Abstract

New Zealand is well behind the rest of the developed world in access to funded drugs for managing type 2 diabetes. Over the last 12 years three new classes of glucose-lowering drugs have come through clinical trials to market. The principal strengths of all three novel classes of medicine are their lack of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), their frequent acceptability in patients intolerant of or contraindicated for existing funded drugs, and avoidance of weight gain. International guidelines focus on individualization of treatment and avoidance of hypoglycaemia. This is extremely difficult for New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes when we do not have access to modern drug treatments.