inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!
home / diabetes canada / advocacy in action: expanding access to essential diabetes management tools

advocacy in action: expanding access to essential diabetes management tools

diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at six years old, ross kinney has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of new treatments and technologies.

by marlene oliveira
published apr 24, 2025
read time 4 minute read
join the conversation
read time 4 minute read
join the conversation
if you knew there were medications and technology that could help you stay healthier, prevent medical complications, and live longer, you’d want access to them, wouldn’t you?
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at six years old, ross kinney has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of new treatments and technologies. however, ross also understands that the cost of these vital tools can be a significant barrier. when the opportunity arose to help diabetes canada advocate for better access to diabetes medications and devices, he was determined to take action.

from fundraiser to successful advocate

since those early years, ross and his family have been dedicated champions of diabetes awareness and fundraising, even establishing an annual walk/run/cycle event in their hometown of woodstock, n.b. the overwhelming support they received from their local community motivated ross to expand his involvement to diabetes advocacy.
in 2019, ross joined diabetes canada in calling for a national strategy to improve health outcomes for people living with diabetes. as a volunteer advocate, he collected signatures, engaged with elected officials, and spoke at events like “diabetes day on the hill” in ottawa. by october 2022, the federal government introduced a framework that reflected many of the advocates’ primary calls to action.

related stories

navigating diabetes: clinical practice guidelines support people with diabetes and healthcare providers
staying true to her vision more than two decades later, dr. zaina albalawi is bringing it with her as she leads a group doing essential work for people with diabetes across canada.
“living with diabetes isn’t easy, and individuals do all of the hard self-management work. they deserve to trust they are getting consistent, research-backed care from their teams,” says dr. zaina albalawi.

facing adulthood: challenges for young woman living with diabetes
transitioning from late teenage years to adulthood is difficult for anyone. for jennifer lopez of winnipeg, manitoba, the challenges of this transition were layered with anxiety and depression.
today, jennifer lopez is a teaching assistant in the program from which she graduated, working at ndinawemaaganag endaawaad inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth in winnipeg.
story continues below
glenn thibeault, executive director of government affairs & policy for diabetes canada, notes that this win has paved the way for specific requests that advocates can champion. at the provincial and territorial levels, these requests include investments in risk reduction strategies, enhanced research, and improved treatment access, including funding for continuous glucose monitoring devices (cgms).

pushing for access to diabetes management devices

continuous glucose monitoring plays a crucial role in helping individuals maintain their blood glucose levels within a target range. it significantly reduces the risk of complications and improves both short—and long-term health outcomes. yet the high cost of cgms—reaching as high as $6,000 per year for those without health insurance—can be a barrier for many. since cgms became available, diabetes canada has been advocating for improved provincial/territorial c. initially children with t1d were covered and steadily the age for inclusion has increased, making access more affordable.
pauline armour, who volunteers as a diabetes advocate and fundraiser in nova scotia, highlights the financial strain: “my daughter hayley has been using a cgm for at least 10 years. during that time, we had to pay $300 per month out of pocket. this has been a financial burden that we endured to ensure hayley managed her blood sugars as well as possible to avoid long-term complications from living with diabetes since age three.”

resource centre

sponsored by
diabetes canada
story continues below
as recently as 2022, continuous glucose monitor coverage was unavailable in the northwest territories, nunavut, newfoundland and labrador, new brunswick, nova scotia, and prince edward island. diabetes canada’s volunteer advocates, including ross and pauline, have worked to foster discussions with local government representatives, sharing their personal experiences, explaining why these devices are important, and explaining how they can change a person’s life and long-term health.
“advocating for change means building relationships with governments and being a key source of information,” explains glenn. “those in a position to enact change must hear directly from people with diabetes. diabetes canada, with our data, practitioners, and guidelines, can be the machine to support their voices.”

expanded coverage, expanded options for people with diabetes

the push for expanded access to devices has yielded significant progress in atlantic canada. in 2023, new brunswick expanded coverage for insulin pumps and included coverage for continuous glucose monitors for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. in 2024, nova scotia lifted the age cap on insulin pump coverage and introduced cgm coverage, while prince edward island began covering cgms for people of any age using an insulin pump or three or more daily injections.
powered by
diabetes canada
story continues below
these changes arrived at a critical moment for ross, who was using a cgm but was transitioning out of the coverage provided by his parents’ private insurance. similarly, pauline’s daughter hayley turned 27 just days after the age cap of 26 was lifted in nova scotia.
she says, “having used an insulin pump for the past 20 years, hayley would have had to return to daily injections, which would have placed her diabetes management at risk, potentially impacting her health in the long run. access to cgms in nova scotia has provided financial relief and allowed hayley to use them without worrying about affording the $300 per month.”
now 32, ross lives with his wife in fredericton, working part-time at the provincial legislature while studying photography at the new brunswick college of craft and design. “having returned to school and changed employment status, these policy changes mean i have affordable options that aren’t restricted to the benefits provided by an employer,” says ross. “as i finish as a student and step into the unknown of a new career, the expanded access to the diabetes management tools i need has also opened up my life choices.”
ross and pauline’s stories showcase the power of advocacy and community support in driving change, but significant disparities in access to devices continue to exist across the country. hear more from ross in this short video. can you add your voice at the provincial or territorial government levels? learn more about diabetes canada’s advocacy efforts and how you can help. 
story continues below
this article was originally published march 14, 2025.

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

 
diwan minocha leading a session as a camp counsellor. holding microphone and speaking to group.
empowered by d-camps: diwan’s story of growth and connection
amy moore posing for a photo. young woman in a dress.
addressing diabetes stigma: amy’s story
lois hourston of kelowna, b.c., left, and dr. mary jung, right.
research-backed program making big strides in preventing type 2 diabetes
jennifer lopez- woman posing for a photo with her arms crossed and smiling
facing adulthood: challenges for young woman living with diabetes
dr. zaina albalawi posing for a photo.
navigating diabetes: clinical practice guidelines support people with diabetes and healthcare providers
mother helping son with diabetes blood test and medication, both looking down at devices.
opinion: canada leads the future of diabetes care by listening to those with lived experience
man looking down at food during holiday dinner.
opinion: people living with diabetes need support, not shame, over the holidays