Who is eligible for NDSS-subsidised FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus after October 1?

NDSS-registered people with type 1 diabetes are eligible. The previous requirement — a connection to an automated insulin device (AID) like myLoop or Omnipod 5 — is removed. Type 2 diabetes patients on NDSS have separate CGM access pathways; this specific change applies to the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus for type 1 only.

What do I need to do before 1 October to access the change?

Check your smartphone is compatible with the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus app (Abbott's compatibility checker is available on the FreeStyle website). Then book an appointment with your diabetes healthcare team to update your NDSS CGM access registration before making your first standalone order.

FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus goes standalone on NDSS from 1 October

What just happened

Diabetes Australia announced this week that Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitor will become available as a standalone device through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) from 1 October 2026.

Until now, NDSS access to the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus specifically required the sensor to be connected to an automated insulin device — a pump running myLoop or Omnipod 5. That link has been the practical barrier for many people with type 1 diabetes who use multiple daily injections or older pumps not configured for AID. From 1 October, that barrier is removed. Any NDSS-registered person with type 1 diabetes can access the sensor under the subsidy.

The FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus is a 15-day flash glucose sensor that reads interstitial glucose via a smartphone app. It provides continuous glucose readings without the need for finger-prick calibration and includes glucose trend arrows and an optional alarm for low and high glucose events.

Both-and

What CGM access has meant in practice

Continuous glucose monitoring has transformed type 1 diabetes management over the past decade. Flash and CGM systems give people with type 1 diabetes a real-time picture of glucose trends — not just point-in-time values — which supports more precise insulin dosing, earlier detection of hypoglycaemia, and better awareness of how food, exercise, and stress affect glucose.

The clinical evidence base for CGM in type 1 diabetes is strong. NDSS subsidised CGM access for type 1 diabetes was a significant access milestone when it was introduced, but the AID requirement for certain devices has created a two-tier system: people using older pumps or multiple daily injections have had access to some CGM options but not to the Libre 3 Plus specifically.

The AID requirement was a policy decision — partly about encouraging uptake of integrated insulin delivery systems, which have the strongest evidence base. The practical effect was that a subset of people who could benefit from the Libre 3 Plus were excluded because of how they chose to deliver insulin, not because of any clinical reason to withhold access.

What changes on 1 October — and what to check

From 1 October, the standalone pathway means:

Who: NDSS-registered people with type 1 diabetes, regardless of insulin delivery method.

Cost: $17.90 per sensor co-payment (standard NDSS rate). Sensors last 15 days; up to six sensors (three months’ supply) per NDSS transaction.

Compatibility: The FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus requires a compatible smartphone to display readings. Abbott’s compatibility checker on their website lists supported devices. This is worth confirming before switching — particularly if you are using an older Android model.

Access step: Patients need to book an appointment with their diabetes healthcare professional to update their NDSS CGM access registration. This is a one-time administrative step and opens the subsidised ordering pathway.

What it does not change: Patients currently using the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus connected to an AID are not affected. The existing AID pathway continues.

2 cents

If you have type 1 diabetes, use multiple daily injections or an older pump, and have been watching the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus from a distance because the AID requirement excluded you — October 1 is a practical date to act on.

The smartphone compatibility check and the healthcare professional appointment are the two steps before then. Neither requires an urgent specialist visit; your GP or diabetes nurse can update your NDSS access in a standard appointment.

If you already use a different CGM device through NDSS and are happy with it, there is no clinical reason to switch — this is about access, not a clinical recommendation to change devices. The right sensor for you depends on your individual circumstances and what your diabetes team recommends.

Verdict: yes — a meaningful access change for a meaningful group of people with type 1 diabetes, effective 1 October.