Raman Kumar says a federal plan to cover diabetes medications and supplies would be 91裸聊视频減henomenal91裸聊视频� because she91裸聊视频檒l finally stop worrying about how to pay for her care.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 so expensive,91裸聊视频� she said of replacing a $100 sensor for her continuous glucose monitor every 10 days.

91裸聊视频淢y extended health coverage through my husband91裸聊视频檚 work doesn91裸聊视频檛 even cover that,91裸聊视频� Kumar said. 91裸聊视频淟ast month I skipped half the month because you just don91裸聊视频檛 want to go and spend that money. It91裸聊视频檚 $100 every time you walk into a pharmacy.91裸聊视频�

Kumar has Type 1.5 diabetes, due to symptoms associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

91裸聊视频淚 take Metformin, which is prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, and insulin before I go to bed, which is typically prescribed for Type 1,91裸聊视频� she said from Surrey, B.C.

She91裸聊视频檚 concerned that her symptoms, including dizziness, will worsen if she doesn91裸聊视频檛 maintain her unaffordable care.

On Thursday, federal Health Minister Mark Holland tabled a bill that paves the way for a universal drug plan, starting with coverage for birth control and diabetes drugs and supplies. The pharmacare deal is a key component of the supply-and-confidence deal between the governing Liberals and the NDP. Alberta and Quebec have said they want to opt out in favour of spending federal money on their own plans.

Holland did not provide details about coverage for supplies but told a news conference in Ottawa that diabetes patients have enough to worry about besides the cost of their care and that some resort to reusing syringes, which he said is 91裸聊视频渘ot right.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲hat happens to that person who doesn91裸聊视频檛 take their medication? They wind up, potentially, with an amputation, with a stroke, with a heart attack. They walk out, potentially, with potential kidney problems,91裸聊视频漢e said.

Doctors and advocacy groups hailed the plan as they wait for specifics on coverage in Canada, which is alone among countries with a universal health-care system in not including medications.

Dr. Tom Elliott, medical director of a diabetes clinic in Vancouver, said one of his patients was hospitalized last year because he could not afford to buy medication after paying for groceries.

91裸聊视频淏etween putting food on the table and taking his medications he chose food on the table. And the next thing you know he91裸聊视频檚 in hospital, almost dying from severe diabetes complications,91裸聊视频� he said.

The endocrinologist said that while British Columbia has the country91裸聊视频檚 best coverage for low-income patients, many do not meet the deductible criteria so they skip their drugs or don91裸聊视频檛 take them at all.

91裸聊视频淪o what do you do? You skimp and you skip or you just don91裸聊视频檛 afford them at all. It91裸聊视频檚 terrible.91裸聊视频�

Elliott said that along with insulin and other drugs, continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps are essential and that coverage for these items would make a life-saving difference to patients who will have 91裸聊视频渇air and just treatment.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 optimistic that they91裸聊视频檙e covered. And if they91裸聊视频檙e not then really it91裸聊视频檚 despair and we91裸聊视频檙e back at square one. You have to cover them. They91裸聊视频檙e life-changing, difference-making, game-changing devices.91裸聊视频�

Diabetes Canada called the plan a 91裸聊视频渕onumental step91裸聊视频� that would enhance the well-being of more than four million people living with diabetes, adding it will continue advocating for full and timely access to medications and devices.

Jessica Diniz, president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said every province has limitations on coverage and that the average out-of-pocket cost for Type 1 diabetespatients is about $18,000 a year.

While continuous glucose monitors help avoid complications, Diniz said a price tag of between $3,000 and $4,000 means many people must do without them, and the replacement cost of sensors every few days is another deterrent.

Diniz, whose group advocates for those with Type 1 diabetes, said researchers are trying to determine why Canada has a higher incidence rate of that condition than some other countries.

91裸聊视频淣orthern Hemisphere countries seem to have higher rates. We91裸聊视频檙e looking at Vitamin D, the food we eat. The rate of diagnosis is growing at four per cent a year compared to three per cent in the U.S. That doesn91裸聊视频檛 sound big but it adds up and it91裸聊视频檚 significant,91裸聊视频� said Diniz,adding that the average age for diagnosis in children is 10.

91裸聊视频淏ut I91裸聊视频檝e met families whose children were 18 months or two years old. It91裸聊视频檚 the whole family that91裸聊视频檚 going through this.91裸聊视频�

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