KEY POINTS:
A diabetes support group will today lodge a case with the Human Rights Commission over claims of discrimination.
Diabetes Youth New Zealand president Adrian Coombe said the case centred on the Ministry of Health's definition of disability, which excluded children whose disability arose from personal health conditions.
Families in some parts areas who had children with diabetes could not access a subsidy to help relieve full-time carers because of the definition, said Mr Coombe.
The subsidy was available to support families with children who had conditions such as hearing disorders or learning difficulties.
Mr Coombe said the Government promised to resolve the issue several years ago but was dragging its heels.
Some regions were flexible in applying the ruling, said Mr Coombe. The most difficult areas of the country for families with diabetic children to access the support were Nelson-Marlborough and parts of the North Island beyond Northland and Auckland, he said.
More than 3000 children and young people had diabetes, said Mr Coombe, mostly the non-preventable Type 1 form of the condition.
"Managing Type 1 diabetes is stressful and relentless," he said.
"It can lead to medical complications in later years if not managed rigorously."
