Health committee  In that vein, one recommendation that we have in diabetes 360° is to support greater connection between the patient and community-based supports. Right now, as a patient with diabetes, there is nowhere I can go to know where to find a cooking class, or if there is a local support group of people like me with type 1, or how I could maybe connect with a local group that walks, to improve my fitness.

Health committee  Absolutely. We have a series of recommendations for what we're calling foundational elements, or elements that will support the implementation of all of our diabetes 360° targets. The first among them is a national registry or repository of data about not only who has diabetes and who doesn't have diabetes, but the kind of health care interventions they are getting.

Health committee  I think the key guiding principle of the architecture of diabetes 360° is that it's meant to be an overarching strategic framework to improve patient outcomes, which must be implemented in partnership with various levels of government, NGOs and the private sector. It is intended to be implemented in a way that is customized province to province to territory, region by region in some cases, based on the unique needs of those communities.

Health committee  Those are certainly ideas that Diabetes Canada is in support of our looking into further, because we know that the impact of consuming sugary drinks can increase the risk of even a person of a normal BMI developing type 2 diabetes. They've consumed too much in certain populations and they can really increase the risk of those people developing chronic diseases, including diabetes.

Health committee  We think the bigger impact was likely that on December 8, Minister Lebouthillier asked the CRA to revert to its previous language in its clarification letter. That had been in place before May and we think it's the removal of that interpretation that allowed the 58% to be approved.

Health committee  That's the technology I was describing a couple of minutes ago: the insulin pump that can talk to the continuous glucose monitor and make adjustments. It's the closest thing to an artificial pancreas that has yet been developed. It's currently available in the United States and has been for about the last 10 months.

Health committee  All your points are very well taken. Primary prevention of type 2 diabetes is a critical piece of the strategy that we're recommending. To my knowledge, I think it's a much stronger element of the strategy than it was in the previous strategy. It means ensuring that we address food insecurity so that people have access to healthy food.

Health committee  The system that I wear costs about $2,000 to set up, and then about $50 a week to continue to operate.

Health committee  Regrettably, I can't, because I don't know what their applications were. I obviously can't see their applications, and because many of those people aren't aware that the review of their file has been concluded, they haven't reached out to JDRF or Diabetes Canada to say they've been re-rejected and ask for help.

Health committee  Extremely few have it, because this is also extraordinarily expensive to run. It would cost another $3,000 or $4,000 a year to operate this system. As Dave mentioned, there is currently no province that provides any coverage.

Health committee  I think, if their health care team asserts that they need it, then yes, I do think we should be covering it. Diabetes kills a minimum of over 7,000 people in Canada; that is, diabetes is listed as the cause of death for over 7,000 people a year. We know that diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, which can also be listed as the causes of death.

Health committee  Yes, it can be done, and it often is done. In fact, there's exciting technology that's just recently been made available in the United States and that we're hoping is coming to Canada in the next little while that would not only allow the insulin pump to have the readout from the continuous glucose monitor, which is possible today, but would allow the glucose monitor to talk to the insulin pump and say, “Oh, she's starting to go lower on her blood sugar.

Health committee  Yes, if a patient wears a continuous glucose monitor, currently, with most systems, they have to calibrate it at least twice a day, which means take the finger prick and use the test strips that are more commonly used. The continuous glucose monitor checks my blood sugar every five minutes and sends the readout to my phone.

Health committee  Yes, between 90% to 95% of people with diabetes have type 2.

Health committee  No. In other provinces, it's not age limited. I'm not a deep expert on all provinces, but I know, for example, in Ontario, the assistive devices program covers insulin pumps for people of any age. There are provinces where it's provided regardless of age and then there are provinces, as I mentioned earlier, where there is currently little or no support for insulin pumps.