Mary Kate Blois from Upper Rawdon, NS, said the cost of continuous glucose meters kept many diabetics away. He’s jealous that PEI recently announced it will fund some continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. Instead of manually checking blood through a finger prick, CGMs check blood sugar levels every few minutes and send readings to devices such as cell phones or insulin pumps. Blois has been using one for about two years and combines it with her insulin pump. If its levels are off, the pump automatically delivers the correct dose of insulin. He said it was life changing. “I can just live my life and not worry so much about diabetes, which I think is huge,” she said. “If I’m sleeping, I’m worried, ‘Is my blood sugar going to go crazy?’ Because that has happened in the past. I just find that the CGM and the pump together make me worry less.” Peace of mind comes at a cost. CGMs can run between $3,000 and $6,000 per year. Blois said she is fortunate to have had some private insurance coverage in the past and her family has been supportive as well. “It’s a very expensive disease and many type 1 diabetics cannot afford to use this technology,” he said.
Coverage available in PEI
PEI became the first Atlantic province to cover some CGMs. Its program offers the devices at a discounted rate, depending on a person’s household income and private insurance coverage. PEI estimates that 1,300 people will be able to benefit from the program. Continuous glucose monitors can send levels to a phone so people get accurate blood sugar readings all the time. (Colin Mehmel) Blois said that should set the stage for Nova Scotia to follow. He said parents of diabetic children could especially benefit. “It takes so much concern from parents with young kids who have it, who are running around and don’t know what their blood sugar is,” Blois said. He also believes that if the provinces fund CGM, it will save the health care system money in the long run. “I think a lot of diabetics would have better control and not have as many long-term side effects,” Blois said. Her push for coverage is echoed by Diabetes Canada. The national advocacy group said CGMs can be “lifesaving for people who have low glucose at night and are at risk of not waking up in the morning.” Diabetes Canada said the monitors help adults and children with type 1 diabetes who haven’t met their blood sugar goals or are struggling with hypoglycemia. It calls on all provinces to fund observers specifically for these groups.
NS reviewing coverage
In a statement, the Nova Scotia Department of Health said it is considering whether CGMs should be covered. He said they are still relatively new devices and need to be reviewed for both their clinical benefit and cost to the health care system. But Blois believes if the province spoke directly to those who already use them, the government would quickly learn it’s worth the investment. MORE TOP STORIES
