New diabetes treatment good news for young sufferers

State Health Minister Stephen Robertson said that with 50 new cases of Type 2 diabetes diagnosed in Queensland every day, the Insulin Pump Program at the Royal Childrens Hospital would treat up to 150 young diabetes patients a year.

"Diabetes is one of the few conditions for which prevalence and death rates are steadily increasing each year," he said.

Robertson said the new treatment program meant patients could have their insulin administered through an epipen rather than a needle.

"The epipen gives a small amount of insulin continuously, eliminating the need for daily insulin injections.

"Insulin pump therapy is an increasingly popular treatment method because with appropriate use, it can provide better control of blood glucose levels."

The pump also allows regular adjustments to the amount of insulin delivered in response to changing blood glucose levels with food and physical activity.