Health committee  You have my notes, and people have read them. I'm going at it a bit differently with regard to CGM. It helps me because my blood sugar fluctuates; it's called hypo-unawareness. With type 1 diabetes, your blood sugar can just plummet and go low. You have no signs or symptoms. It'

Health committee  I also brought an insulin pump to show you. You use this needle to inject the infusion set, and then you attach this cannula. You can see what's in here. There's a cartridge of insulin. If I'm going to eat something, I'll look to see what my blood sugar is. Okay, it's six. I put

Health committee  Sorry. Yes.

Health committee  Well, no. You have to qualify for an insulin pump through the government, and then the assistive devices program. A pump is $7,000.

Health committee  Currently, my husband has insurance with Great-West Life. We've been asking GWL, because the government insurance has coverage for CGM, if it would cover CGM, and it is just not answering. We keep trying by sending letters and it is not going to cover it.

Health committee  I do.

Health committee  No.

Health committee  My doctor fills out the form and submits it.

Health committee  If people living with diabetes aren't able to take care of themselves and properly manage it, it's extremely dangerous, and it's life-threatening. If you have read my notes, you will know that my sister passed away at the age of 29. Her blood sugar went low. It's a reality. It's

Health committee  Fifty per cent of people living with diabetes, whether it's type 1, type 2, or type 1.5, suffer from depression. Fifty per cent.

Health committee  To answer your question regarding the pump, you need a new pump every four to five years.

Health committee  I empathize with your concerns. It's frustrating because the tools are there. They're readily available for the physicians. A doctor told me once, “I love it when you come in, Karen”, because I tell her all sorts of things about diabetes. When I first moved to Toronto, I went to

Health committee  I had planned a trip halfway around the world for a year, which I did take. There is diabetes in my family, but type 2, and so prior to going, my doctor wanted to do a test. She did the test and then she went on holidays, and the doctor who was filling in for her looked at my rep

Health committee  With the annual physical, just check everyone for diabetes. Everyone, when they have an annual physical, should be checked for diabetes. I love the idea of covering insulin and people not having to pay for it.

Health committee  For insulin.