LCQ15: Provision of support for patients with diabetes
******************************************************
Question:
Type 1 diabetes is mostly related to genetic factors and autoimmune system conditions. Patients need to monitor their blood glucose levels on a long-term basis in order to inject appropriate doses of insulin; otherwise, they would incur risks such as hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis. This disease can have a serious impact on the growth of children and adolescents. It is learnt that some of the continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) currently available on the market can continuously measure the blood glucose level for two weeks, effectively improving patients' lives, but CGMs need to be replaced regularly, placing a financial burden on patient families. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of children under 18 with Type 1 diabetes across the territory, and of the number of such new cases in each of the past three years;
(2) whether it has estimated the amount involved each year if the Hospital Authority fully subsidises the use of CGMs for children under 18 with Type 1 diabetes across the territory; and
(3) given that the causes and treatment methods for Type 1 diabetes differ from those for Type 2 diabetes, whether consideration will be given to formulating targeted support policies and measures for each of the two diseases, so as to provide patients with more appropriate assistance?
Reply:
President,
In response to the question raised by the Hon Ginny Man, after consulting the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply is as follows:
Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases in Hong Kong. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, 8.5 per cent of non-institutionalised persons aged 15 to 84 had diabetes or raised blood glucose. Diabetes is mainly classified into Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the dysfunction of insulin-producing cells, which may be related to hereditary factors, autoimmune disorders or some environmental factors. Generally speaking, diabetes diagnosed in children or adolescents is mostly Type 1. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body’s resistance to insulin. Apart from hereditary factors, the main factors are related to unhealthy lifestyle (including poor lifestyle habits, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity or obesity).
(1) The DH and the HA do not maintain territory-wide statistics on the number of children under the age of 18 with Type 1 diabetes and the number of new cases each year. From 2021 to 2025, the number of diabetic patients under the age of 18 who had used HA services each year was about 700 to 800, including patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
(2) Diabetic patients need to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly. Traditional monitoring methods include blood tests and checking of blood glucose levels by blood glucose meters. Continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) serves as a special monitoring tool for particular diabetic patients with clinical needs.
Relevant Specialist Out-patient services of the HA will consider the clinical conditions and medical needs of patients, and provide an appropriate quantity of CGM free of charge to suitable patients depends on the situation, mainly for patients who need frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels to adjust their treatment plans, such as those requiring multiple daily insulin injections with unstable blood glucose levels, prone to severe hypoglycaemia or suffering from hypoglycaemia unawareness, including adult and paediatric patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Based on current price estimates, the annual cost of continuous use of CGM for a Type 1 diabetic child under the age of 18 is about $15,600.
However, not all diabetic patients have the clinical needs for CGM. Therefore, the HA will continuously review the coverage of relevant services and technology development, and review clinical service guidelines, including the use of different suitable testing methods to monitor the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients according to their clinical conditions and actual needs, so as to ensure the provision of appropriate treatment to all diabetic patients.
(3) At present, the HA provides diversified services according to the individual clinical needs of patients to support various types of diabetic patients, including Family Medicine Out-patient services and Specialist Out-patient Diabetes Centre services. Family Medicine Out-patient services provide care for patients with relatively stable conditions, and conduct health risk assessments and follow-up care services for patients through multi-disciplinary healthcare teams. During consultations, doctors will also provide appropriate advice and treatment according to the clinical conditions of patients (including arranging blood tests for patients and prescribing medications). Diabetes Centres deliver comprehensive consultation and treatment services for patients with more complex conditions, mainly managed by a team of endocrinologists and specialised diabetes nurses, providing patients with services such as diabetes assessment, consultation, treatment, self-management education and metabolic risk assessment, so as to enable early detection of complications and appropriate management. Doctors will arrange different tests and treatment plans based on the individual circumstances of patients.
The HA has been committed to enhancing the knowledge of children with diabetes and their families about the disease and providing them with health education. The Hong Kong Children's Hospital has published the Diabetes Care in Schools, providing guidelines on supporting schoolchildren with diabetes, identifying relevant symptoms of abnormal blood glucose and taking appropriate response measures.
The Government also encourages members of the public to adopt healthy lifestyles through a life-course approach, and to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and related complications through "early prevention, early identification and early treatment". Members of the public should maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and limit the intake of sugar and saturated fat, avoid alcohol or smoking, as well as engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. The Government will continue to enhance the health literacy of the public through health promotion activities, and work with various government departments and community partners to build a healthy living environment.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
NNNN