Diabetes MedsCheck

Managing type 2 diabetes means juggling medicines, blood glucose checks, diet and review appointments, and it is easy for parts of that to drift. A Diabetes MedsCheck is a free, focused session with a pharmacist that puts the medicine side of your diabetes back in order, and checks you are getting the most from your treatment.

What is a Diabetes MedsCheck?

A Diabetes MedsCheck is a version of the standard MedsCheck built around type 2 diabetes. It is a private, in-pharmacy consultation funded by the Australian Government through the Pharmacy Programs Administrator, so eligible patients pay nothing. The pharmacist reviews your diabetes and other medicines, checks your blood glucose monitoring technique, talks through diet and lifestyle factors that affect your control, and helps you set simple goals. You leave with a written summary to share with your GP or diabetes team.

It supports your existing diabetes care; it does not replace your GP, endocrinologist, diabetes educator, or your regular reviews.

Who is it for?

It is designed for people with type 2 diabetes who would benefit from a closer look at their medicines and monitoring. It is often most useful if you:

• have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes;
• are not meeting your blood glucose targets, or are unsure what they are;
• have had medicines added or changed;
• are not confident using your glucose meter, or your insulin or other injectables.

Eligibility includes holding Medicare or DVA, and rules about how recently you have had a related service can apply, so check with the pharmacy. Type 1 diabetes and complex cases are usually better served by your diabetes team and a Home Medicines Review.

How it works at the pharmacy

Bring all your medicines (diabetes and otherwise), your glucose meter and recent readings if you have them, and any targets or notes from your doctor. In a private area the pharmacist will go through how and when you take each medicine, watch your monitoring technique, and talk about timing with meals, hypos and sick-day management, and side effects. You will get a written medicines list and an action list of things to raise at your next GP visit.

Safety and when to see a doctor

A Diabetes MedsCheck is not for emergencies or for changing your treatment on the spot. See your GP or diabetes team promptly if your readings are persistently high or low, if you have frequent hypos, or if you feel unwell, and seek urgent care for symptoms of very high or very low blood sugar. The pharmacist can flag concerns and recommend you see your doctor, but dose changes remain a prescriber decision.

How it’s regulated in Australia

Diabetes MedsCheck is funded under the Community Pharmacy Agreement and administered by the Pharmacy Programs Administrator, with national eligibility criteria. It is delivered by a pharmacist registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Diabetes Australia and the National Diabetes Services Scheme provide the broader support and subsidised products that sit alongside it.

Official sources

• Pharmacy Programs Administrator: MedsCheck and Diabetes MedsCheck
• Diabetes Australia
• Healthdirect: type 2 diabetes

Book ahead and bring your meter and your medicines. Use the button below to find a pharmacy offering Diabetes MedsCheck near you.