Skip to content

Letter: Awaiting action on NDP pump promise

I would like to remind members of the current B.C. government of a promise they made, a full campaign commitment, to “remove the age restriction on the insulin-pump program for British Columbians living with diabetes."
pumps

The Editor,

I would like to remind members of the current B.C. government of a promise they made, a full campaign commitment, to “remove the age restriction on the insulin-pump program for British Columbians living with diabetes” (bcndp.ca/our-commitments).

We haven’t heard any discussion on this topic since the election.

The B.C. diabetes community, working with the Ministry of Health, has helped save $4.5 million for each of the past three years through more judicious use of blood-glucose test strips — savings that the previous minister of health promised to put toward insulin pumps. But since the election, neither the current health minister nor the Ministry of Health has shown any interest in discussing these promises.

This government did manage to find an extra $1 million for a non-accountable therapeutics initiative but can’t find money that will actually help British Columbians. The diabetes community stands ready to work with this government, but does it want to work with us?

B.C. is the only province that doesn’t offer funding for all diabetics, regardless of age, toward the cost of insulin pumps, which can prevent 911 calls and long-term complications of diabetes.

I can say this from personal experience. I have had Type 1 diabetes for 36 years and was injecting four to five times a day; as well, my husband used to call 911 at least a few times a year to help with low blood sugar levels.

I have been on the pump for seven years and no 911 calls have been made. I also had the beginning of diabetes in my right eye and, after two years on the pump, all traces have disappeared and my eyes are free from any sign of diabetes.

This is proof the insulin pump controls blood sugars.

Linda Zumm, Port Moody