NATIONAL SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS THE FINANCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TOLL OF LIVING WITH DIABETES

DexCom, Inc. (Nasdaq: DXCM), a global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring, has revealed that the cost of living with diabetes is impacting 62% of Australians who participated in a recent consumer survey.  Of these, 10% reported it had led to considerable financial strain.

The survey of more than 2000 Australians living with diabetes also shows that more than 40% of Australians living with diabetes are unable to afford a continuous glucose monitor to help manage their condition, and around 70% have the added burden of personally experiencing stigma due to misconceptions about the illness. Almost 1 in 2 people surveyed (49%) said living with diabetes had negatively impacted their mental health. This is consistent with findings from reports such as the State of the Nation report.

"Many Australians are juggling daily health management with mounting costs and mounting worry," said Samy Saad, Senior Director, Dexcom Australia.

This survey shows that too many Australians are being forced to choose between the technology that helps them manage their condition and other essentials. The mental-health impacts and the cost burden are equally urgent problems."

The consumer survey is part of a bold national video and social campaign called 'Smash the Stigma'. This campaign features real Australians living with diabetes and is intended to directly address common misconceptions about the condition. The campaign encourages all Australians to work together to raise awareness about the reality of living with diabetes by sharing their story or a misconception they'd like to smash on social media with #SmashStigmaDexcom.

Juliet Love, interior designer and host of Better Homes and Gardens, is among Australians featured in the Smash the Stigma campaign. In the campaign video, Juliet says that, for her, living with diabetes is the result of an autoimmune condition.

"Your hormones affect your blood glucose levels, how much sleep you've had, and your stress levels, so it can change very drastically throughout the day. Monitoring your blood glucose levels with something like a continuous glucose monitor is so helpful because it means you can check at any time of the day or night to know exactly what it's doing," Juliet says.

Other key results from the consumer survey show:

• Over 70% of respondents said they were either shocked or worried about being diagnosed with the condition, and more than 97% reported that their life had changed since their diagnosis.
• Close to 40% of respondents don't see a GP or specialist on a regular basis, with some citing that they didn't feel comfortable seeking care, or they felt there was a stigma attached to their condition.
• Respondents saw the biggest impact of living with diabetes on Australia's economy to be in hospital admissions (43%), followed by mental healthcare (29%) and time off work (14%).
• 35% reported the most important factor to help address the growing epidemic of the condition in Australia was subsidised support for people living with type 2 diabetes to access continuous glucose monitors, followed by prevention and screening, and education (both at 25%).

For further information about the Smash the Stigma campaign and the survey, visit the Smash the Stigma website.