Manitoba government promise of diabetes coverage 'will save lives' but falls short, advocates say

Joseph Sandulis grateful Manitoba's latest budget promises to cover costly diabetes equipment for his 12-year-old daughter.

But the Mtis father of two who works a minimum wage job can't help but wonder why the province has proposed capping those supports for people under 25.

"That'll help people a lot, like my daughter," said Sandul, 48."I just I feel sorry for people what happens with people over 25?"

Manitoba's 2021-22 provincial budget was released Wednesday with a commitment to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps for people under the age of 25.

That followed apush from local advocates likeTrevor Kirczenow, who helped found the EmergencyDiabetes Support for Manitobans. The impetus that led to forming the group was a growing chorus of concerns coming from Manitoba familiesstruggling to afford diabetes medication and gear amid widespread pandemic layoffs.

"This coverage will save lives, it will improve lives dramatically," said Kirczenow."We would love to see that extended to all ages:there's no medical reason for that 25 age cutoff."

Advocates push for change

The group began organizing in recent months in one case challenging a number of MLAs to undergo the "antique" finger-prick testing but in reality the pandemic exacerbated existing financial barriers.

Diabetes Canada recommends jurisdictions cover the cost of CGMs andsays they can cost $3,000 to $6,000 per year. They monitor blood-glucose levels electronically and signal to the wearer when their insulin levels are low, making them a favoured tool over the traditional finger-prick testing method.

WATCH |'No medical reason' not to extend diabetes supports to those over 25:

'No medical reason' not to extend diabetes supports to those over 25

3 years ago

Duration 0:58

Diabetics laud promised new support for young Manitobans in the 2021-22 provincial budget, but there is also confusion over why the Pallister government is limiting those supports to people under the age of 25.

Kirczenow points to studies out of Europe that suggested CGMs can halve the frequency of life-threatening diabetic emergencies compared to finger-prick technology. Their use has also been tied tolower average blood sugar levels, which can reduce rates of complications down the line.

Kirczenow said it costs the system about $60,000 a year to treat one personwho requires regulardialysis.

"If we could prevent 20 people from having to go on dialysis, that's $1.2 million," saidKirczenow, whose childhas Type 1 diabetes. "There will be a huge return on the investment being made and it makes sense to do it for all ages."

No difference for over 25

Colin Mehmel is one of those left out of the newly-announced coverage. The 37-year-old freelance musician and clarinet teacher is a part of the gig economy that's been hit hard due to widespread event cancellations and closures.

"Diabetes is a lifelong disease, and this does not change my life and make it any better," Mehmel said of the budget coverage commitment.

Mehmel used to rely on a slightly cheaper device called aflash glucose monitor that is less preciseand still requires the occasional fingerprick.

He recently upgraded to a CGM,which he estimates costs him about $3,600 a year, because it alleviates some of the stress of staying on top of things using other methods.

He's paying for that out of pocket because he has no private health coverage.

"What it ends up saving the system, according to large scale studies done in Europe, is quite substantive," he said.

"It's not really clear why the government would pass that up. It's really got a lot of adult diabetics over the age of25 very, very confused."

Sandulis elated his daughter may no longer have toendure the anxiety-inducing five or six finger-pricks a day while she's at school, not to mention the savings his family stands to benefit from.

It wasn't long ago Sandul reached out to Kirczenowand diabetes support groupsasking him to help set up a GoFundMe so he could afford the expensive supports for his daughter.

"It's just an amazing thing [CGMs], but so costly that nobody can afford," he said.

Between now and the time when CGM and insulin pump coverage kicks in, his financial and other concerns remain intact.

"How do people function? How do you have diabetes? I just don't get it."