Ontario Will Pay For Insulin Pumps For Adult Diabetes Type 1 Patients

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Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 23 Jul 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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Adults with Type 1 Diabetes who live in Ontario will get their insulin pumps free, says the Ontario Government. This is part of $741 million in new funding on a comprehensive diabetes four-year strategy to 'prevent, manage and treat diabetes'.

Included in the strategy is an online registry that will give patients access to information and educational tools aimed at empowering them to manage their disease. The registry will also make it possible for health care providers to easily check patient records, access diagnostic data and send patient alerts.

According to the Ontario Government, the strategy includes:

-- Improving access to insulin pumps and supplies for over 1300 patients with type 1 diabetes by funding these services for people over the age of 18.

-- Increasing chronic kidney disease services, plus greater access to dialysis services.

-- Employing a plan to make bariatric surgery more widely available.

-- Educational campaigns to prevent diabetes by improving awareness of diabetes risk factors in high risk populations, such as the Aboriginal and South Asian communities.

-- Widen and improve access to team-based care closer to home by mapping the prevalence of diabetes across the province and the location of current diabetes programs in order to align services and address service gaps.

The Ontario Government says that diabetes is a growing and expensive health care challenge. Over the last decade the number of people in Ontario with diabetes has risen by 69% - numbers are predicted to rise from 900,000 today to 1.2 million by the end of this decade. Treatment for diabetes and other conditions related to it, such as stroke, kidney disease and heart disease cost Ontario more than $5 billion annually.

In a press release, the Ontario Government wrote "The strategy will support Ontario's two top health-care priorities of improving access to care and reducing emergency wait times".

David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, said "Our plan will help Ontarians living with diabetes get better access to the care they need, when and where they need it. By improving the way we prevent, treat and manage diabetes, thousands of Ontarians will benefit from a better quality of life. The diabetes registry will change the way this disease is managed, ultimately saving more lives and easing hospital wait times."

Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion, said "We will provide better access to information, programs and services to prevent people from getting diabetes in the first place. There is solid evidence that tells us that many cases of diabetes can be prevented by increasing daily physical activity and making healthy food choices."

Cynthia Lees, Interim President and CEO, Canadian Diabetes Association said that the Canadian Diabetes Association applauds the Government of Ontario's continued commitment to investing in a diabetes strategy for its people. "This new strategy will provide an estimated 900,000 Ontarians with diabetes the tools they require to effectively manage their disease."

Dr. Ken Arnold, President of the Ontario Medical Association, said "Doctors are working with their patients to help prevent the complications from chronic conditions such as diabetes. It is essential that patients who are living with diabetes are able to access the necessary treatment and resources to ensure they are able to manage their disease and stay healthy."

-- More information on Ontario's diabetes strategy (PDF)
-- Current Ontario diabetes programs

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ontario
www.health.gov.on.ca/english/media/media_mn.html

Written by - Christian Nordqvist
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