New Provincial Reports in Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador
People living with type 1 diabetes are at high-risk of developing serious long-term complications such as kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and limb amputation.
The first report, Economic Benefit of Public Funding for Insulin Pumps in Prince Edward Island, was released on December 4th in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The report shows that a provincial government investment into a publicly funded insulin pump program could improve health outcomes for Prince Edward Islanders with diabetes and save the province up to $470,000 by 2032.
“Since I started using an insulin pump, I feel like I have total control over my life, whereas before the pump I felt like the disease was controlling my life,” says Anthony Millar of Tyne Valley, P.E.I. “Having an insulin pump is beneficial to me, thanks to my fiancée’s medical insurance. I wouldn’t know what to do if I ever had to go back to injections again.”
Prince Edward Island is currently one of only two provinces in Canada that does not offer or have a commitment to a publicly funded insulin pump program. Residents living with type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps face among the highest out-of-pocket costs for people with diabetes across Canada. At almost $5,700 annually, costs for Islanders are consistently above the national average.
The second report, The Economic Benefit of Expanding Public Funding of Insulin Pumps in Newfoundland and Labrador, was released two days later on December 6th in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Newfoundland and Labrador was one of the first provinces to implement a publicly funded insulin pump program in Canada, however the current program only provides coverage for individuals under the age of 25. The report reveals that a provincial government investment into an expanded insulin pump program to include all people living with type 1 diabetes who qualify for a pump could improve health outcomes for residents and also save the province up to $1.3 million per year by 2032.
“Since switching to using an insulin pump, I truly feel that I don’t live with type 1 diabetes; it lives with me,” says 24-year-old St. John’s resident, Andrew Codner. “The pump has given me freedom that I could never enjoy with just using needles. It has changed my life completely. My wish is that others my age and older also have the opportunity to benefit from a publicly funded insulin pump program in our province.”
The average out-of-pocket expenses for people who qualify for the current insulin pump program in Newfoundland and Labrador is just under $3,000 per year. Those who wish to use a pump but do not qualify for funding because they are over age 25 must pay far higher costs - these higher costs can make the insulin pump unaffordable for those Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
The Canadian Diabetes Association urges the government to enhance access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies. This will ensure that residents of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are equipped with the necessary tools to effectively manage their disease and prevent or delay the serious and far more costly complications associated with the disease.
For more information on the reports, or to learn how you can become a diabetes advocate, visit diabetes.ca/advocacy or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).