Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program

A program to manage type 2 diabetes

12-month support

You’ll learn how to manage your type 2 diabetes through diet and exercise.

Manage weight loss

A dietitian will support your weight loss goals with a low-calorie diet and a weight management plan.

Meal planning

Meal plans, recipes and meal replacements will help you make positive lifestyle changes to improve your health.

How the program works

This 12-month program uses a fully supported meal plan and consultations with a dietitian to help you achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

Research shows that following a tailored weight loss program and exercising more can help manage type 2 diabetes,
sometimes to the point of remission.^{1, 2}

For people living with type 2 diabetes, losing even a small amount of body weight can decrease your symptoms and help to manage your blood sugar levels.

The infographic below shows what your journey could involve and the support you'll receive along the way.

Why the Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program?

No enrolment fee

There is no enrolment fee to participate if you are an eligible member. Your GP or specialist may charge consultation fees if they don’t bulk bill.

No waiting periods

You don’t need to have served your Medibank hospital cover waiting periods to participate. Check your cover’s eligibility below.

Participate from anywhere

The program is completely online, so you can join from anywhere in Australia.

Research-based

The program was developed with support from leading researchers from The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, and Austin Health.

Hear from a program participant

Michael shares his experience with the Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program. Find out how a tailored meal plan and working with a dietitian helped him make small changes to manage his condition.

Check your eligibility

If you answer yes to the following questions you may be eligible to participate in the Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program.

Are you a Medibank member with resident hospital cover that includes diabetes management?

Are you 18–80 years old?

Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?

Are you above a healthy weight (is your BMI 27 or greater)?

Can you access a phone and the internet?

Can you speak and read English?

Please note: Our team will assess your clinical suitability during the screening process. Clinical approval from your GP will be required if you have liver disease, renal impairment, have type 2 diabetes managed by medication other than metformin or if clinically indicated during the screening call.

Unfortunately, the program is not suitable for everyone. Please check the exclusion criteria below.

You will not be eligible to participate in The Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program if you:

have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
are currently using insulin to manage your type 2 diabetes
are currently taking an SGLT2 inhibitor due to the risk of ketoacidosis.
are already scheduled for bariatric surgery
have had a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
have had any bariatric surgery within the last 5 years
are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
have a presence of porphyria
have been diagnosed with severe or advanced renal or liver failure
have been diagnosed with an unstable cardiovascular condition
have been diagnosed as being in a catabolic state (i.e. cancer, major trauma or unexplained weight loss).

Frequently asked questions

Is type 2 diabetes reversible?

Do I need a referral from my GP to participate?

I haven’t been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but I am pre-diabetic. Can I participate in the program?

What does the program journey look like?

Your 12-month journey through the Medibank Type 2 Diabetes Program is divided into three phases.

Phase 1: Weight loss (From week 1 for 12-18 weeks)

The focus of the weight loss phase is to establish your diet and—when you’re ready—light to moderate physical activity. Your dietitian will support you as you change to a daily diet of two meal replacements, a third lower carbohydrate meal, and snacks. This diet will meet all your nutritional needs.

Phase 2: Transition (After weight loss phase, for 6 weeks)

During this transition phase, your dietitian will support you to reduce your number of meal replacements per day and slowly re-introduce lower GI carbohydrates into your diet. Your dietitian will then help you to transition to a wholefood diet, which can be continued indefinitely.

Phase 3: Weight maintenance (ongoing)

Upon completing the program, you’ll aim to maintain your weight loss by following the long-term diet that you and your dietitian agree on in Phase 2. You’ll also be encouraged to increase your physical activity levels to maintain a healthy weight and any improvements in your diabetes symptoms.

Things you should know

While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice, and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).

* Available to suitable Medibank members aged 18-80 with resident hospital cover that includes diabetes management who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, are above a healthy weight (BMI≥27) and can access a telephone and internet.

References

¹Lean, M.E.J., Leslie, W.S, Barnes, A.C., Brosnahan, N., Thom, G., McCombie, L. et al. (2017). Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial. The Lancet.

² Jebb, S.A., Astbury, N.M., Tearne, S., et al (2017). Doctor Referral of Overweight People to a Low-Energy Treatment (DROPLET) in primary care using total diet replacement products: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open.

³ Diabetes Australia. Diabetes in Australia.

Acknowledgements

The resources used in this program have been adapted from Better Knee, Better Me, a program developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne.

Call us or email Health.Programs@medibank.com.au to check your eligibility

Call 1300 733 338

Contact us