Photo by Whitehorse Star
Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost
Glucose monitoring funding for adults to be permanent
Yukoners over 18 years of age with type 1 diabetes will have access to fully-funded flash glucose monitors starting Oct. 1.
Yukoners over 18 years of age with type 1 diabetes will have access to fully-funded flash glucose monitors starting Oct. 1.
Glucose monitors can help individuals living with type 1 diabetes to better monitor their glucose levels.
The Yukon is the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide coverage for continuous glucose monitors to individuals 18 years of age and younger.
The territory joins Ontario and Quebec in providing coverage for flash glucose monitors.
Physicians will apply for coverage on behalf of their patients.
It’s estimated that up to approximately 250 people in Yukon have type 1 diabetes.
The Yukon Party said it obtained the promise for coverage from the Liberal government last March in partial exchange for agreeing to speed up the passage of the 2020-21 fiscal year budget and have the legislature ajourned early due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
If adults prefer to use a continuous glucose monitor, they can apply their flash glucose monitor coverage to the cost of a continuous glucose monitor.
Adults with additional medical needs, for example, dementia, can apply for full coverage of a continuous glucose monitor device.
Adult Yukoners are encouraged to work with their health care professional to determine the most appropriate support to manage their diabetes.
“We recognize the challenges Yukoners and families who live with type 1 diabetes face on a daily basis and we are committed to supporting them to live happy, healthy lives,” Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost said Monday.
“This coverage will help adults living with type 1 diabetes in Yukon manage their condition and improve their quality of life.”
Diabetes Canada has commended the government for adding coverage of flash glucose monitoring for adults with type 1 diabetes to its existing coverage of continuous glucose monitors for children with type 1.
“These devices are health-protecting and potentially life-saving for many people with diabetes,” said Laura Syron, the organization’s president and CEO.
“It is critically important that people with diabetes, in consultation with their health care providers, be able to access the glucose monitoring system that best meets their needs.
“Diabetes Canada acknowledges the dedication of community volunteers who have been advocating for this important policy, and encourages other provinces and territories to follow suit and cover these life-changing devices,” Syron added.
To be eligible for the benefit, Yukoners with type 1 diabetes who meet the benefit criteria must register with the Chronic Disease and Disability Benefit program by calling 667-5092.
People aged 65 or older can contact the Pharmacare program at 667-5403.
A flash glucose monitor does not require a finger prick to monitor glucose levels.
Rather, a small sensor is inserted just under the skin of the upper arm.
When scanned every eight hours, it provides a current glucose reading and a continuous trend graph to a reader’s device.
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Comments (6)
Up 1 Down 2
Proponent for more engaged and intellectually informed society regardless of... on Sep 19, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Dear Lynx - What was the timing and context of the alleged commendation you write about? I would like to know because it is important to understand whether you are just muddying they waters or you are making a valid point.
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Lynx on Sep 16, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Hey Sarah
If this is not what the Yukon diabetes community wants, how come "Diabetes Canada" commended the Yukon government for doing this? Honest question, why does the national Canadian diabetes community think this is great, while the local Yukon diabetes community thinks this is horrible? Something doesn't make sense here.
Would the diabetes community have preferred the current government leave the program the way it was when the Yukon Party was voted out of office? I mean if that was better then, I'm sure you could campaign to have it revert to the old one.
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Patti on Sep 16, 2020 at 12:47 pm
The government has approved continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for ages 2-18 which is great as it will help parents and children monitor their sugars to stay in the optimum range. Young adults ages 19 - 25 their brains are still developing and it is imperative to control their sugars. When sugars go high or low it has an affect on the brain and other organs. Sugars that are too low can cause a seizure and death and too high not only affects the individual immediately but the future through blindness, amputations, heart and kidney failure. The CGM allows the patient to invite followers who can provide assistance when needed, an alarm sounds when the sugars go too low or too high, it shows what the sugars are doing throughout the day so that corrections with food or insulin can be made. During the night an individual is sleeping and they won't know if their sugars are going into an emergency low without a CGM alarm.
Young adults 19 - 25 starting out in life don't generally have an abundance of finances to be able to afford the difference between a CGM and a flash monitor. I also want to point out that doctors in Yukon are not trained as endocrinologists so don't have the authority to recommend a type 1 individual should have a monitor. The Yukon should have their own endocrinologist for Type 1 patients and if they don't then patients must be entitled to see one as a specialist visit. Type 1 is a unique illness where the pancreas no longer functions and it requires knowledge to administer and provide prescriptions for patients insulin and other care.
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Sarah on Sep 16, 2020 at 12:03 pm
This is NOT what the diabetes community wants, not what it NEEDS. The so-called government promised CGMs to all Yukoners living with Diabetes. The Yukon Party asked ONE THING of the government in order to get their budget passed and get out of session in the spring. For CGMs to be covered. The Yukon government agreed, and the budget was passed. Now they have backed out of that. They now say they will fund Flash, which is not what people need. This is made to look like our government cares, and is doing something to help the diabetic community. This is no help to them. Hey Sandy - go back and do what you said you would do. LIES LIES LIES.
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Nathan Living on Sep 16, 2020 at 12:44 am
Finally.
Up 3 Down 11
Josey Wales on Sep 15, 2020 at 11:32 pm
Folks...everyone please, Josey loathers, supporters, critical thinkers and yes the skeptics too I am so chiming in here.
Admittedly often I peruse articles read most of, get the points made...and pull out my cynical six guns...do I not?
That said, today I sat reading this one, said inside...Josey might have to be supportive of this team red plan...politics aside.
I sh*t you not... was.
Until I got to this part..."Rather, a small sensor is inserted just under the skin of the upper arm."
Never have I snapped outta a happy place so quick, NOT a effin chance would I participate in that.
Lemme guess, Bill Gates collaborated with CCP to come up with this genius?
Almost like a scene outta a poker game with monsters...
I'll see your fake showers, and raise you an app the like of which ye never see.
History repeats, new historians give credit to Liberal politicians for playing such greasy cards.
Quite seriously this no troll repeat no troll, as per all my points may seem as such, they are all relevant to this particular story.
...a chip....AAAAhh Ha AaaaaaaaHha I am old, that is our LOL