The national insulin pumps grants program was developed by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Diabetes Australia for families which do not have access to insulin pump reimbursement through private health insurance.

It was included in last week's federal budget and will now be available to those under 18 from November.

Hundreds of children in St George and Sutherland Shire have type 1 diabetes, a hereditary disease. Without insulin pump therapy they can develop kidney and retinal eye disease.

Miranda endocrinologist, Steve Thornley, said until recently the pumps were only available through major teaching hospitals.

He said insulin pumps were recognised as the ``gold standard treatment'' for type 1 diabetes because they could reduce severe fluctuations in blood sugar levels by up to 84 percent.

This reduced the long-term risk of retinal eye disease by 76 per cent, nerve disease (60 per cent) and kidney disease (56 per cent).

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin because the cells that make the insulin have been destroyed by the body's own immune system.

Dr Thornley said treatment for type 1 diabetes had historically consisted of up to five daily insulin injections. The pumps replace the need for this.

They hold a small cartridge that stores a three-day supply of insulin, which is delivered to the blood through a permanently-connected cannula inserted under the skin.

Because they do not automatically respond to blood sugar levels finger-prick testing is still required.

Dr Thornley is among the growing number of diabetes practitioners who are making insulin pumps available. The pumps are supplied through a partnership with Kareena Private Hospital. The JDRF speaks to many families who cannot afford a pump.