The Department of Health is to fund two new programs to help prevent and treat diabetes-related blindness and foot complications.
The move was announced by the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, to coincide with National Diabetes Week, this week.
Mr Hunt said the $2.8 million would be allocated across the two programs.
“Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the lives of more than 1.2 million Australians,” Mr Hunt said.
“We are aware of the significant impact diabetes has on people and their families, and are doing everything we can in working towards the broad prevention of the disease in the Australian community.”
He said the KeepSight Program would receive $1.5 million in addition to the $1 million it received in Government funding last year.
He said KeepSight was a national diabetes eye screening program which aims to prevent diabetes-related blindness by detecting problems early when they are treatable.
The remaining $1.3 million is to be provided to Diabetes Australia to develop a Foot Forward Program, aimed at preventing diabetes-related foot problems and amputations by establishing early self-identification and access to health professional services and high risk foot services.
Mr Hunt said the search for a cure to diabetes was ongoing and unrelenting.
