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@shandro Minister Shandro,
As a Diabetologist at the University of Alberta I am well aware of the supports you have listed. They are INSUFFICIENT. Which is why I am reaching out.
1. The pump program does not cover Flash glucose monitoring which is an amazing new technology
As a Diabetologist at the University of Alberta I am well aware of the supports you have listed. They are INSUFFICIENT. Which is why I am reaching out.
1. The pump program does not cover Flash glucose monitoring which is an amazing new technology
Flash testing costs the same as 6 capillary glucose tests daily. Patients have unlimited coverage for capillary glucose tests but in fact this is costing the province money as flash glucose monitoring does vastly reduce the number of capillary glucose tests needed. Patients
using pumps, those with problems detecting lows, and others with complex medical issues need to test more than 6 x per day - some up to 25 x per day. The Flash glucose monitoring system can provide 24 h of complete data - trends (rising, falling or steady glucose) and
the data is instrumentally helpful in adjusting insulin and counseling patients around activity and food. Diabetes is a very complex disease to handle and manage and this system allows both capillary testing and ongoing monitoring. When in range patients don't have to do
"finger pokes" (capillary tests) - we do encourage them to use capillary testing when their glucose is very low or high for treatment decisions.
I think this is a lost opportunity to improve patients self-management, reduce hospitalisation and complications of diabetes.
I think this is a lost opportunity to improve patients self-management, reduce hospitalisation and complications of diabetes.
2. Insulins are very costly. the patients that are most likely not to have access are those who are of lower SES. I am seeing patients with gestational diabetes, pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy who can't access insulins through the supports you mentioned.
I've reached out to industry but that is time consuming (do you really want to pay ME to talk to drug companies?) I have other patients who have 2-3 low-paying jobs without benefits who have to decide between rent or insulin.
Lately I am seeing an increasing number of admissions for missed insulin doses, patients losing weight because they can't take enough insulin due to cost so try to skip doses. In the end the health care system will pay for this. One emergency room visit would pay for most of a
years' worth of insulin / testing. The province managed to negotiate a deal for insulin at an incredible price for inpatient use. Why can't we do this for outpatients? Or how about pregnant patients and patients who don't have access to sufficient support
