Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)
Talk to your doctor or your diabetes specialist about funding for CGMs.
On this page
Who can get funded CGMs?
You need to be diagnosed with one of the following:
- type 1 diabetes
- permanent neonatal diabetes (diabetes since you were born)
- some types of “monogenic diabetes” with insulin deficiency
- type 3c diabetes (includes insulin deficiency caused by pancreatectomy, insulin cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis)
- some atypical inherited forms of diabetes
If you’re not sure whether this describes your diabetes, your doctor or diabetes specialist team will be able to help.
Your doctor or a member of your diabetes specialist team will apply for funding – this is called a special authority application. You may need to make an appointment, and this will be at your own cost.
Every two years, your doctor or specialist will review whether you’re still getting a benefit from your CGM and renew your “special authority”.
Do I have to have a CGM?
You do not have to have a CGM. There are no changes to the funding of other blood testing and insulin products. These will continue to be funded.
What CGMs can I get?
I only want a CGM
Two standalone CGMs will be funded:
The Dexcom One+(external link)
The FreeStyle Libre 2 or 2 Plus *(external link)
Standalone CGMs will be funded for everyone with type 1 diabetes or type 3c diabetes. You will be able to choose either of these CGM devices.
* The FreeStyle LIbre 2 Plus is replacing the FreeStyle Libre 2. The Plus is funded from 1 May 2025 and pharmacies will switch people over to it in due course.
Read more about what the change means for people who use the FreeStyle Libre 2
I am interested in an insulin pump and CGM
If you have a funded Tandem t:slim x2 or MiniMed 770G, from 1 October your doctor or diabetes nurse can apply for you to access one of the following CGMs.
- Dexcom G6
- Dexcom G7
- Freestyle Libre 3+
If you don’t have a funded insulin pump, you will need your diabetes specialist team to assess you before you can get funded access to these devices.
What accessories are funded?
Adhesive over-patches will be supplied with all of the Dexcom devices. Adhesive patches are not needed for the Freestyle Libre devices.
Using the mobile application
CGMs can communicate with an application you install on your phone. Make sure your phone and its operating system are compatible with the CGM app.
Once you have the app installed, before upgrading the OS you'll need to check it's still compatible with the app. Consider turning off automatic updates for your OS, because the app may stop working if the OS updates before the app is compatible.
Dexcom 1+ compatibility check | Dexcom website(external link)
LibreLinkUp App compatibility [PDF] | Freestyle website(external link)
Do I need a smartphone?
The CGMs communicate to an app that can be installed on your phone. If you don't have a compatible phone, the suppliers can provide a standalone reader device.
You can get a FreeStyle Libre 2 reader, free of charge, by completing a form on the Mediray website(external link).
You can get a Dexcom One+ reader, free of charge, by filling out a form from Dexcom(external link)
How do I start getting funded CGMs?
From the 1 October 2024, CGMs were funded and available.
You will need to make an appointment to see your GP or your diabetes specialist team.
Your GP or your diabetes specialist team will need to apply for a Special Authority. In most cases you can get a Special Authority on the same day, but sometimes this can take a bit longer.
Once you have a Special Authority your GP or diabetes specialist team can write funded prescriptions for CGMs.
You will need a new prescription every three months.
You will need to go you your pharmacy to pick up your prescription. You may need to pay a co-payment (usually $5) at the pharmacy if you do not qualify for free prescriptions.
You should be able to pick up three months’ supply of CGMs from your pharmacy. But it may be a good idea to call ahead and check if they have stock.
Why do I need a prescription?
We funded CGMs and insulin pumps in the same way we would a medicine. This means that, to access funded CGMs, you need to follow the same process as you would to get a medicine.
We rely on health care professionals to help people manage their diabetes using the medicines and devices we fund.
What happens if one or more CGMs are faulty?
We know that sometimes technology doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. If you are having trouble with your CGM or think one may be faulty, contact the supplier or your pharmacy for help.
NZMS for the Dexcom One+(external link) or 0508 634 103
Abbott (Mediray) Diabetes Care Helpline for the FreeStyle Libre 2 or 2 Plus(external link) or 0800 106 100
The suppliers will provide you a replacement free of charge. Any CGMs provided to replace faulty ones would not count towards your annual limit. If you do not get the faulty ones replaced, this may affect your ability to access all the CGMs you need.
Check how many CGMs you can get
How many CGMs can I get?
There are limits to how many CGM devices you can get over 12 months. The 12 months starts from when your Special Authority was approved. We set the limits based on the manufacturers’ recommended usage guide.
For the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus:
- Up to 28 devices each year.
- Up to 6 devices on each prescription.
(Slightly more devices are funded for the FreeStyle Libre 2)
For the Dexcom ONE+:
- Up to 40 devices each year.
- Up to 9 devices on each prescription.
When does the funded limit reset?
The limit resets 12 months after the date your special authority was approved.
What if I need more devices than the funded limit?
If you need extra CGMs because you have experienced device failures, you need to talk to the relevant supplier and seek replacements.
If you need more devices than the funded maximum, your prescriber will need to request permission to increase the allocation. Prescribers can do this through the Special Authority Waiver process. They must do this, and be approved, before you can access any extra funded devices.
Changing between standalone CGMs
If you change between the two CGMs, the count towards your limit for the year restarts.
For example, you've filled 2 prescriptions of Freestyle Libre 2 Plus, then you will have collected 12 devices (about halfway to the annual limit). If you change to the Dexcom ONE+ halfway through the year, your count goes back to zero. You can collect 9 devices with your new prescription and another 9 devices on your fourth prescription for the year (32 devices in total over the 12 months).
If after one prescription of Dexcom ONE+ you went back to Freestyle Libre 2, then you can collect another 6 devices and your total would be 18 Libre 2 Plus and 9 Dexcoms (28 devices in total).
Changing from a standalone CGM to a CGM and pump?
If you change from a standalone CGM to a CGM that works with a pump, then everything resets to the date you got your new Special Authority for the new CGM. The number of devices resets to 0, you have a new anniversary day.
What happens if I’m already self-funding CGMs?
You will still need to talk to your doctor or your diabetes specialist team. They will have to apply for funding, this is called a special authority application.
Either your doctor or someone on your diabetes specialist team can write a prescription for CGMs. You will need a new prescription every three months.
Instead of receiving your CGMs directly, you will need to collect your prescription from your pharmacy.
Every two years, your doctor or your specialist diabetes team will review whether you’re still getting a benefit from the devices and apply for a new “special authority”.
I’ve already paid for a subscription
If you haven’t heard from the supplier of your CGM subscription, you will need to contact them.
Future proofing
Over time, the suppliers will update their products. Our contracts allow Pharmac to review these products and consider listing them. We won’t need to do a new procurement process anytime products are improved.
Getting support
If you have any technical questions, you can call:
- NZMS, for Dexcom CGM: 0508 634 103
- MediRay (Abbott) for FreeStyle CGM: 0800 106 100