As cost of living rises, diabetes remains an expensive condition for Atlantic Canadians
Global News
On World Diabetes Day, people with diabetes are calling on their provincial governments to cover insulin pumps and supplies, which can cost thousands of dollars per year.
Emily Gouthro says she’s fortunate to have health insurance. If not, she would struggle to manage her diabetes.
“Even if you do have coverage in Nova Scotia, sometimes it’s only 80 per cent of the pay,” said Gouthro in a recent interview. “And that’s if you have great coverage.”
Gouthro, a registered nurse, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was four years old. The cost of her insulin is entirely covered by her insurance plan. But, as she explains, costs go well beyond the insulin itself.
People with Type 1 diabetes often rely on insulin pumps — which can cost thousands of dollars — to administer their medication. Then there’s the cost of reservoirs for insulin, infusion sets, testing strips and other equipment.
“A lot of people don’t realize that there’s so much to this disease,” said Gouthro. “It’s 24 hours a day – you’re thinking about it all the time.”
Goutro said under her insurance plan, she gets $10,000 to cover insulin pumps for her lifetime.
“But if you know anything about insulin pumps, they typically range anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000. That’s just for the pump itself, and the warranty’s only good for four years,” she said.
“They’re saying you only get $10,000 for your lifetime, but the insulin pump you’re only going to have for a couple of years. And then what are you supposed to do?”