Raman Kumar says a federal plan to cover diabetes medications and supplies would be 害羞草研究所減henomenal害羞草研究所� because she害羞草研究所檒l finally stop worrying about how to pay for her care.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so expensive,害羞草研究所� she said of replacing a $100 sensor for her continuous glucose monitor every 10 days.

害羞草研究所淢y extended health coverage through my husband害羞草研究所檚 work doesn害羞草研究所檛 even cover that,害羞草研究所� Kumar said. 害羞草研究所淟ast month I skipped half the month because you just don害羞草研究所檛 want to go and spend that money. It害羞草研究所檚 $100 every time you walk into a pharmacy.害羞草研究所�

Kumar has Type 1.5 diabetes, due to symptoms associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

害羞草研究所淚 take Metformin, which is prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, and insulin before I go to bed, which is typically prescribed for Type 1,害羞草研究所� she said from Surrey, B.C.

She害羞草研究所檚 concerned that her symptoms, including dizziness, will worsen if she doesn害羞草研究所檛 maintain her unaffordable care.

On Thursday, federal Health Minister Mark Holland tabled a bill that paves the way for a universal drug plan, starting with coverage for birth control and diabetes drugs and supplies. The pharmacare deal is a key component of the supply-and-confidence deal between the governing Liberals and the NDP. Alberta and Quebec have said they want to opt out in favour of spending federal money on their own plans.

Holland did not provide details about coverage for supplies but told a news conference in Ottawa that diabetes patients have enough to worry about besides the cost of their care and that some resort to reusing syringes, which he said is 害羞草研究所渘ot right.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hat happens to that person who doesn害羞草研究所檛 take their medication? They wind up, potentially, with an amputation, with a stroke, with a heart attack. They walk out, potentially, with potential kidney problems,害羞草研究所漢e said.

Doctors and advocacy groups hailed the plan as they wait for specifics on coverage in Canada, which is alone among countries with a universal health-care system in not including medications.

Dr. Tom Elliott, medical director of a diabetes clinic in Vancouver, said one of his patients was hospitalized last year because he could not afford to buy medication after paying for groceries.

害羞草研究所淏etween putting food on the table and taking his medications he chose food on the table. And the next thing you know he害羞草研究所檚 in hospital, almost dying from severe diabetes complications,害羞草研究所� he said.

The endocrinologist said that while British Columbia has the country害羞草研究所檚 best coverage for low-income patients, many do not meet the deductible criteria so they skip their drugs or don害羞草研究所檛 take them at all.

害羞草研究所淪o what do you do? You skimp and you skip or you just don害羞草研究所檛 afford them at all. It害羞草研究所檚 terrible.害羞草研究所�

Elliott said that along with insulin and other drugs, continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps are essential and that coverage for these items would make a life-saving difference to patients who will have 害羞草研究所渇air and just treatment.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 optimistic that they害羞草研究所檙e covered. And if they害羞草研究所檙e not then really it害羞草研究所檚 despair and we害羞草研究所檙e back at square one. You have to cover them. They害羞草研究所檙e life-changing, difference-making, game-changing devices.害羞草研究所�

Diabetes Canada called the plan a 害羞草研究所渕onumental step害羞草研究所� that would enhance the well-being of more than four million people living with diabetes, adding it will continue advocating for full and timely access to medications and devices.

Jessica Diniz, president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said every province has limitations on coverage and that the average out-of-pocket cost for Type 1 diabetespatients is about $18,000 a year.

While continuous glucose monitors help avoid complications, Diniz said a price tag of between $3,000 and $4,000 means many people must do without them, and the replacement cost of sensors every few days is another deterrent.

Diniz, whose group advocates for those with Type 1 diabetes, said researchers are trying to determine why Canada has a higher incidence rate of that condition than some other countries.

害羞草研究所淣orthern Hemisphere countries seem to have higher rates. We害羞草研究所檙e looking at Vitamin D, the food we eat. The rate of diagnosis is growing at four per cent a year compared to three per cent in the U.S. That doesn害羞草研究所檛 sound big but it adds up and it害羞草研究所檚 significant,害羞草研究所� said Diniz,adding that the average age for diagnosis in children is 10.

害羞草研究所淏ut I害羞草研究所檝e met families whose children were 18 months or two years old. It害羞草研究所檚 the whole family that害羞草研究所檚 going through this.害羞草研究所�

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