Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Kate White
Permanent funding to be considered for glucose monitors
The Yukon legislature has unanimously passed NDP MLA Kate White’s motion to consider permanent funding for continuous glucose monitors for all Yukoners with type 1 diabetes.
The Yukon legislature has unanimously passed NDP MLA Kate White’s motion to consider permanent funding for continuous glucose monitors for all Yukoners with type 1 diabetes.
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are devices that track the levels of blood glucose on an ongoing basis.
The devices are easy to use and alert the user when their glucose is too high or low, allowing them to proactively manage their glucose levels.
White’s motion, debated last April 26, originally called on the Yukon to implement funding necessary to cover the costs for continuous glucose monitors to all Yukoners with type 1 diabetes.
However, she pointed out in a statement, the Liberals changed the intent of the motion by changing the language from calling on the government to the “introduce” this funding to merely “consider” funding continuous glucose monitoring.
“It may seem like a small change in language, but what it does is kick a decision down the road at the expense of the health of Yukoners living with type 1 diabetes,” said White.
“There is huge body of evidence that shows that constant glucose monitors not only improve health outcomes for individuals living with type 1 diabetes, but they also save the health care system thousands of dollars in avoided acute care costs on a per person basis.”
For the past year, the Yukon government has been running a CGM pilot project that covers youth with type 1 diabetes.
However, the pilot does not cover all Yukoners. Adults over the age of 25 cannot participate.
The Yukon NDP has heard concerns from many Yukoners with type 1 diabetes who are not eligible for the pilot program, White added.
“Continuous glucose monitors not only improve health outcomes and save lives, they also vastly improve the quality of life of those living with type 1 diabetes,” said Marney Paradis, a parent and president of the Yukon Type 1 Diabetes Support Network.
“CGMs allow users to do things like sleep through the night without waking up to test their blood glucose. The benefit of something like that cannot be overstated.”
The government, Paradis added, “says that they need more evidence before deciding on expanded funding for constant glucose monitors.
“I look forward to them reaching out to us so that we can provide them with the qualitative and quantitative data that they seek.”
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Comments (7)
Up 2 Down 0
Greg Axani on May 8, 2019 at 8:59 am
To Thomas Flood,
Please contact Dexcom support directly. There are staff available that can talk to your benefits provider and assist you and your child in obtaining a Dexcom.
I wish you the best of luck!
Up 4 Down 0
Thomas Flood on May 7, 2019 at 2:38 pm
My benefit provider recently denied my request for coverage for a Dexcom system due to the fact that my daughter, who was diagnosed Dec. 31, 2018 with Type 1, is not on an insulin pump. I reside in NL, currently there is a 12-18 month wait list for my daughter to get assessed/approved for an insulin pump in the meantime we are plagued with the additional burden of our daughter suffering from potential nocturnal hypoglycemia.... the use of dexcom system would greatly improve our daughter's quality of life, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, greatly decrease the likelihood of suffering such a medical/physical setback... sooo not fair!!!
Up 8 Down 0
Tammy King on May 7, 2019 at 12:47 pm
To those that are concerned about the cost of this proposal, consider the costs of treating heart disease, nerve damage, vision problems and amputations not to mention the long term social costs of supporting a person with type 1 who ends up unable to work because of these complications. These ARE the complication of type 1 diabetes. And they can happen even if you look after yourself as best you can. I watched my 7 year old daughter inject herself 7+ times per day and my husband and I woke up every two hours all night long to prevent her from going too low and dying in her sleep. Yet we still could not get the numbers we needed to keep her health and avoid complications. Society will see less costs if type 1 diabetes is treated with the most aggressive technology available.
Up 5 Down 0
Catherine on May 7, 2019 at 9:00 am
This is truly a lifesaving change. We put our 11 yr old on the 670G CGM a month ago and it has made a world of difference. We are not waking up 2-3x a night anymore. I sleep better knowing an alarm will warn us if her blood sugar is running dangerously low or high and her blood sugar has never been so well managed. Never mind that she now only has to poke her finger for a blood check 4x a day instead of 10x a day.
We are no longer in the territory, but will most likely be back someday, and I am hopeful the Yukon will follow through with this and cover CGM's
Up 1 Down 8
Max Mack on May 6, 2019 at 3:35 pm
I suspect that Kate White means integrated continuous glucose monitoring coupled with insulin pumps? The monitors alone cost many thousands of dollars, with expensive parts that must be replaced on an ongoing basis. Let's say about $4,500 per year in perpetuity for the monitor-related equipment/supplies alone (does not include insulin pump).
To the best of my knowledge these monitors must also be calibrated daily - so they do not totally eliminate the need for finger prick sampling.
I suppose the government will also be expected to chip in for the cost of a smartphone to couple with the monitor?
Let's assume between 200 and 340 individuals with Type 1 diabetes in the Yukon. This works out to between $900,000 and $1.5 million per year for the monitors and related supplies alone - not factoring in any increase in the Type 1 diabetes population due to folks moving here to take advantage of the program.
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Dianna on May 3, 2019 at 2:17 pm
The Liberals' decision to change the wording to "consider funding of cgms" from "introduce funding for cgms" is a huge change. A lot of people in Canada with private Extended Health Benefit plans are already funded to a greater or lesser degree for cgms. Also, cgms are necessary for you to use AUTOMODE with the new Metronic 670 G pump.
My husband has been living with type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness since May 1978 and has had a pump since 2002 and a pump + cgms since Jan. 2008. We started the 670 G with Guardian 3 sensors in Jan 2019 and began Automode on Valentine's Day. We love it. I hope the Yukon Territory begins funding these useful tools for the control of blood glucose levels for all type 1 diabetics and indeed, all those on insulin shortly . Anything less is two tier medicine.
Up 12 Down 0
Josey Wales on May 3, 2019 at 8:21 am
Gee...now I may have a concern about “climate change”, why you ask?
Because I think hell just froze over, metaphorically...as I actually agree with Kate on this particular matter.
She best be careful using logic and facts, might get her ousted out of her own party if this trend continues.
As facts do not care about feelings, mine or anyone else’s, suggest the beat in our society I “think” is these days set on hyperbole and those pesky feelings that make victims...outta something.
On the public record, good job Kate...yes I just expressed that...freely.