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Diabetes Medication Online

See a bulk billed telehealth GP for a type 2 diabetes medication script — metformin, gliclazide, sitagliptin, dapagliflozin and more. eScript to your phone.

Can I get a diabetes medication prescription online in Australia?

Yes. An AHPRA-registered GP at NewDoc can assess your type 2 diabetes during a telehealth consultation and, if clinically appropriate, prescribe oral antidiabetic medication (metformin, gliclazide, sitagliptin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and others) as an eScript sent to your phone.

The consultation is bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders, and any pathology your GP orders during the same appointment (HbA1c, lipid panel, kidney function) is included at no extra charge. Pathology collection itself is bulk-billed at any Medicare-participating provider.

Getting a diabetes medication prescription online

Type 2 diabetes is managed with a combination of lifestyle measures and medication. Most oral antidiabetic medications are first-line GP prescribing — metformin remains the standard initial agent for most patients, with second-line additions including sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT2 inhibitors depending on individual circumstances.

A NewDoc telehealth consultation lets you discuss your current management with an AHPRA-registered GP and, where clinically appropriate, receive an eScript for ongoing or adjusted treatment. The GP can also order any pathology needed to inform the decision — all bundled into a single bulk-billed consultation.

What your GP will discuss

Your GP will review your current diabetes management, including recent HbA1c, home blood glucose readings, weight, blood pressure, and any side effects. They will also assess for diabetes-related complications (cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, retinopathy, neuropathy) and check whether your current medication is achieving glycaemic targets.

Where treatment changes are needed, the GP will discuss options taking into account your kidney function, cardiovascular risk, weight, and tolerance of side effects. SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists are increasingly used early in patients with established cardiovascular or kidney disease; metformin remains the foundation for most regimens.

How NewDoc compares for diabetes medication scripts

NewDoc bulk-bills the consultation that issues your diabetes medication eScript at $0 under Medicare for eligible cardholders. Hola Health also bulk-bills consultations under Medicare, but only outside business hours. During business hours Hola Health scripts are private from $18.90. Doccy, InstantScripts, and Updoc are private-pay only.

NewDoc bulk-bills the consultation that issues your diabetes medication eScript at $0 for eligible Medicare cardholders, with operating hours generally 8 am to 11 pm most days. Hola Health also bulk-bills consultations, but only outside business hours. Doccy, InstantScripts, and Updoc are private-pay only.
ProviderLowest published cost to get a scriptBulk-billed?
NewDoc$0 (Medicare)Yes
DoccyNot publicly listedNo
Hola HealthFrom $18.90 (private; bulk-billed after-hours)After-hours only (and mental health care plans always)
InstantScripts$19 per scriptNo
UpdocFrom $59.95 per consult or $49.95/mo (Pro tier)No
Doctors on DemandFrom $29.90 (QuickScript repeat)No
hub.health$35 (prescription)No

Cell values reflect each provider's lowest publicly listed pathway to a prescription as at the page review date shown below. Doccy lists prescriptions among its services but does not publicly display per-product pricing for them at the verification date. Doctors on Demand operates 24/7 and lists QuickScript repeats at $29.90. hub.health operates 8 am to 8 pm 7 days and lists prescriptions at $35. Hola Health bulk-bills consultations during designated hours (weekdays 6 pm–7:30 am, Saturdays from 12 pm, Sundays and public holidays 24/7); during business hours its scripts are private from $18.90. Updoc is private-pay only with single-consult pricing or monthly subscription tiers. Prices change — check each provider's own website for current pricing before booking.

Pathology your GP can order in the same consult

Diabetes is one of the conditions where regular pathology is part of standard care. Your NewDoc GP can issue all required pathology referrals during the same telehealth consultation, with no separate consult required:

  • HbA1c — measure of average blood glucose over the past 3 months; the standard glycaemic control target
  • Lipid panel — cardiovascular risk assessment, often paired with diabetes management
  • Kidney function (eGFR, urine albumin/creatinine ratio) — important for choosing appropriate medication doses and detecting early diabetic kidney disease
  • Liver function tests — sometimes affected by diabetes-related fatty liver disease

Pathology collection itself is bulk-billed at any Medicare-participating provider. The referral, the consultation, and the eScript are all included in the single bulk-billed telehealth visit.

When telehealth may not be suitable

Telehealth is well suited to ongoing type 2 diabetes management, repeat prescriptions, dose adjustments, and pathology review. Your GP may recommend an in-person consultation or specialist (endocrinologist) referral for type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, complex or unstable type 2 diabetes, suspected diabetic complications requiring examination, or initiation of insulin where clinical assessment is needed.

If you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of diabetic ketoacidosis or another diabetes emergency (severe vomiting, abdominal pain, fast deep breathing, confusion, very high blood glucose with ketones), telehealth is not appropriate. Call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Live ED wait times are available on the site if you need to decide where to go.

References

This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 8 May 2026. Editorial policy

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Or call 0481 615 998

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a diabetes medication prescription online in Australia?

Yes. An AHPRA-registered GP can assess your type 2 diabetes during a telehealth consultation and, if clinically appropriate, prescribe oral antidiabetic medication as an eScript sent to your phone. This includes metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT2 inhibitors. Insulin and GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide) may require additional review or in-person assessment depending on your situation.

Is the diabetes medication consultation bulk billed?

Yes, for eligible Medicare cardholders. NewDoc bulk bills the consultation to Medicare at no out-of-pocket cost, and the eScript is included. You only pay the pharmacy dispensing fee at the time of collection. Most type 2 diabetes medications are PBS-listed and subsidised — the standard PBS co-payment applies, with a lower fee for concession cardholders.

Which diabetes medications can a GP prescribe via telehealth?

GPs can prescribe most oral type 2 diabetes medications via telehealth where clinically appropriate, including metformin (immediate-release and extended-release), sulfonylureas (gliclazide, glimepiride), DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin, linagliptin, vildagliptin), SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin), and combination tablets. Initiating insulin or GLP-1 agonists may require additional assessment, including up-to-date pathology results and sometimes an in-person review.

Can I get a Mounjaro or Ozempic prescription via telehealth?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are GLP-1-class medications. NewDoc GPs prescribe them only for the indications they are PBS-listed or TGA-approved for, in line with current PBS authority criteria where relevant. Off-label prescribing for weight management is not part of NewDoc's standard offering. Supply of these medications is intermittent in Australia and pharmacies may not have stock; this is not something a prescriber can guarantee.

What pathology will I need before starting or changing diabetes medication?

Standard pre-treatment and ongoing monitoring typically includes HbA1c (every 3 to 6 months), kidney function (eGFR, urine ACR), liver function, lipids, and sometimes vitamin B12. Your GP can order any required pathology as part of the same bulk-billed telehealth consultation, with the referral emailed to you and pathology collection bulk-billed at any Medicare-participating provider.

Can I switch diabetes medications via telehealth?

Yes. If your current medication is not adequately controlling your blood glucose, is causing side effects, or your situation has changed (kidney function, weight, cardiovascular risk), your GP can discuss alternatives during a telehealth review and issue a new eScript if clinically appropriate. Some changes (such as adding insulin or starting a GLP-1) may benefit from a longer review or pathology check first.

What information should I have ready for the consult?

Have your Medicare card, the names and doses of any current diabetes medications, recent HbA1c and home blood glucose readings if available, recent kidney function results, your weight and height, and notes on any side effects. If you check your blood glucose regularly, knowing your typical fasting and post-meal numbers helps your GP make a clinical decision quickly.

When should I see a specialist (endocrinologist) instead of a GP?

GPs manage the majority of type 2 diabetes successfully. An endocrinologist referral may be appropriate for type 1 diabetes, complex or unstable type 2 diabetes (e.g. requiring multiple injections, severe insulin resistance, frequent hypoglycaemia), gestational diabetes management, suspected secondary diabetes, or when standard regimens are not achieving target HbA1c. Your NewDoc GP can issue an endocrinologist referral via telehealth at no extra charge if clinically indicated.

What if I have very high blood glucose or symptoms of DKA?

Telehealth is not appropriate for diabetic emergencies. Symptoms suggesting diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) — severe nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, fast deep breathing, fruity breath, confusion, very high blood glucose with ketones — require immediate in-person assessment. Call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Live ED wait times are available on the site if you need to decide where to go.

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