Yesterday, Pharmac confirmed Pharmaco NZ as the sole supplier of three blood glucose meters and two testing strips, from the CareSens range.
Its proposal to award the contract to a sole supplier prompted huge opposition from diabetics during consultation earlier this year.
Pharmac also announced yesterday it would fund insulin pumps for the first time on a nationally consistent basis, costing about $4 million a year.
Changes to meters and testing strips would be phased in over six months, accompanied by an education campaign, Pharmac said.
Pharmac chief executive Steffan Crausaz said the funding body responded to patient feedback by funding a new higher-specification meter, and allowing some patients to continue using their existing meters if they were used in conjunction with certain other equipment.
The $10 million saved would be used for other medical devices and medicines.
"These decisions enhance access to diabetes management products, release funds that can be reinvested in other medicines, and give us confidence of ongoing supply at affordable prices," he said in a press release.
In a press release, Ms Street said thousands of people would have to switch to new glucose meters, disrupting the management of what could be a life-threatening disease.
"What Pharmac's spin can't hide is the impact that changing a meter will have on those whose lives depend on it.
"Let's see the supplier, Pharmaco, rise to the challenge of providing full after-sales service, free replacement batteries on request, and education and training for those for whom English is a second language."
At present, Medica and Roche supply the products.
Diabetes Otago president Mervyn Wilson said he was concerned for the many older diabetes sufferers, for whom the change would be challenging.
In extreme cases, diabetics' management of their disease might deteriorate, leading to amputations, eye problems, and increased cardiovascular risk.
The organisation was busy showing people how to use their existing meters, and had limited resources to meet that demand, he said.
Pharmac was having a "bob each way" in announcing funding for insulin pumps, but was taking away much more than it was giving diabetics, he said.
The change would create "phenomenal" waste in obsolete meters, he said.
