Health committee  For sure. I am so thankful, because I wouldn't be able to do half of what I do to be able to take care of myself. As I said, even with my husband's insurance with his old employer, I wasn't covered for it, and I went into immense debt because, as Karen said, I don't feel those lo

Health committee  I have some on a stick, because my doctor retired, and that's about it. I have a 14-year span of medical records, and that's all I have. I don't have back to when I was diagnosed, even though—this is funny—I was diagnosed at the same clinic where my last GP was, but I don't have

Health committee  My doctor actually started as a nurse and then became a nurse practitioner and is now a physician. She actually spends that time and sits and talks and has that discussion, “How are you? What can I do to help you today?” versus “What's your problem? You only have five minutes and

Health committee  I don't know about Charlene, but I know when my blood sugar is higher that I do feel the pain a lot more severely.

Health committee  And anxiety.

Health committee  It was CRA when I did the disability tax credit. When you get your denial letter, you get a nice little form letter signed by an agent with their extension, which says, “If you have any questions, please call”, so I did.

Health committee  As I said, what I did was I wrote a letter explaining how I didn't like filling out forms because that again was taking away more time from my life than what I have already missed because I'm spending time taking care of my diabetes. I don't want to have to sit and calculate and

Health committee  There is something with the disability tax credit that I didn't get to mention. When I was denied the last time I applied, I called the office and was told that as long as my file went across that agent's desk, she would never approve my claim because she felt I did not deserve i

Health committee  It's going to help a lot. As Charlene said, she gets blamed because she's Métis. I mentioned my 16-year-old daughter, who has status as well. There's a pediatrician in town she will not speak to because when she mentioned that she works out, the physician said, “Why do you work

Health committee  It's a start.

Health committee  The pump is what, six—

Health committee  It wasn't an option until that program became available in Ontario. In 1997, my doctor told me I really needed to be on an insulin pump, but I had no coverage. That was when I was with my ex-husband, and I had no access. It was unattainable.

Health committee  Yes, 20%.

Health committee  He's just switched jobs, so he's only been where he is for a year. The job he has now has a much better plan and coverage. That's the thing. Employers don't necessarily know what their employees need. Plans are tailored not knowing the needs of the plan members. That's an issue

Health committee  I tried right out of college and was denied right off the bat. Even with my husband's insurance, I actually was denied for life insurance despite my below average A1C. I am doing everything in my power—