Post by Jayne Lehmann

Equity in Diabetes Care: Beyond Self-Care Jayne Lehmann Director, EdHealth Australia This week NDSS focused on diabetes foot health. While messages such as "check your feet daily" are valuable, they assume a person can independently recognise problems, make decisions and take action. For many Australians who are vision impaired or living with intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, psychosocial disability or complex support needs, this assumption simply does not reflect reality. True equity is not achieved when everyone receives the same advice — it is achieved when everyone receives the support they need to achieve the same health outcomes. At EdHealth Australia, we advocate for a healthcare system that recognises the difference between equality and equity. Quality and safety for people with disability require supported diabetes care systems, skilled support workers, informed health professionals, clear escalation pathways and person-centred planning. Whether the issue is foot health, glucose monitoring, medication management or preventing diabetes linked health issues, our goal is to ensure that people with disability have equitable access to the diabetes care and education they need to live healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. The challenge is not only for individuals and support workers — it is also for the healthcare system itself. Too often, people with disability encounter health services not designed with their needs in mind. Appointments may be rushed, communication may not be accessible, support people may be excluded from care discussions, and healthcare professionals may lack confidence or training in working with people who have intellectual disability or other complex support needs. As a result, preventable health issues are missed, opportunities for early intervention are lost, and health inequities widen. Health professionals, healthcare organisations and policymakers must do better. This means embedding disability-inclusive practices into everyday care, investing in workforce capability, developing accessible education resources, and ensuring that clinical guidelines recognise the realities of supported decision-making and supported self-management. Equity in diabetes care will only be achieved when people with disability are not expected to fit the system, but when the system is designed to meet their needs.