Sask. government expands coverage of glucose monitors for young adult and senior diabetics

The Saskatchewan government is expanding coverage of advanced glucose monitors, which measure blood sugar levels, for young adult and senior diabetics in the province.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how a body turns food into energy. By monitoring blood sugar levels, people can better manage the condition and prevent life-threatening emergencies.

As of April 1, people between the ages of 18 and 25 and 65 and older will have their glucose monitors fully covered by the government. In the past, only children under 18 had the costs covered.

Advanced glucose monitors are sensors people can attach to their arm in order to send glucose level readings to electronic devices like smart phones every few minutes. 

Before the use of glucose monitors, people with diabetes would have to obtain a drop of blood from a finger prick whenever they wanted to check their levels. 

"It's a new life. It gives you a real chance of taking control," said Robert Gawley, a 91-year-old from Regina who has had Type 1 diabetes for over 60 years. 

Gawley has been using a glucose monitor through a private health-care plan for the last four years, but is grateful that other seniors will now be able to use it. Before he had the device, he said, he would have to prick his finger four times a day.

"It's a matter of not even a second, and I know what my blood sugar level is," he said. "I would certainly recommend them to anyone." 

According to the Saskatchewan government, the device will now be accessible to 9,000 seniors and 700 young adults in the province. The total cost of the expansion will be $23 million. 

Michelle Archer, a Regina-based dietitian and diabetes educator, said she's very excited about the expanded coverage.

"It is something we've been advocating for for years," she said. "The vast majority of the seniors that I know on insulin were not using this technology, or they were using it very sporadically."

However, Archer said she's worried about the quality of life for adults who can't afford the devices.

"It really puts their care at a compromise. They aren't able to see the patterns," she said. "They're relying on finger poke testing and yes, they do get extra strips when they are on insulin, but can you imagine poking your fingers seven, 10 times a day, every day for the rest of your life?"

According to Diabetes Canada, which advocates for people with diabetes, the cost of a monitoring device without a health-care plan ranges between $250 to $500 per month.

"I think it's by far the most important thing that someone with diabetes can have," said Jeremy Storring, an advocate for Diabetes Canada from Saskatoon. "Since I've started using one, I haven't had any emergency room visits."

Storring said the continued lack of coverage for most adults has disappointed him. "There are absolutely people in that age range that can't afford it," he said.

While Storring's monitor is paid for by his employer's health-care plan, he said, he worries about what would happen if he lost his job.

"I would have a much higher premium if I wanted to get private insurance," he said. "And that's always been something that's been like at the back of my mind, even growing up. It's like I need to make sure that I have a good job so I can afford all of these things."

Storring also said that expanding eligibility to all adults would save the government money in emergency room visits.

"Sure, the upfront cost of just the monitor is $3,600 a year," he said. "But if I go to the hospital for some diabetes-related complication, that one incident is going to surpass the amount that they would spend on monitors in five years."

In a statement, the Saskatchewan government said it isn't closing the door for future coverage changes.

"In time, there may be further updates to the eligibility criteria. Funding for this would be considered within the normal budget cycle," it said.