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type resilient: advocate nikki webb’s journey to access insulin pump coverage
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meet nikki webb from winnipeg, manitoba: a remarkable young woman whose journey embodies the resilience required to live well with diabetes. since her diagnosis, nikki has navigated many obstacles to managing her diabetes and living life on her own terms, balancing academics, athletics, a career in healthcare, and family planning. yet, through every challenge, nikki has tapped into her determination and community support to overcome difficulties and achieve her personal goals.
a steep learning curve, supported by community
in 2015, while pursuing her undergraduate degree in dietetics, nikki was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. “all of a sudden, a switch was flipped, and i had a chronic condition to manage while juggling academic pressures. there was no waiting period or time to figure it out,” she recalls. “it was challenging, but i didn’t shy away from it.”
during her first summer of living with and learning about diabetes, nikki volunteered at a diabetes canada d-camp for kids with diabetes. she describes finding her first community during this inspiring experience, where she could “openly have diabetes” while learning the ropes from the campers. at first, nikki’s diabetes management regimen included insulin injections and finger-stick blood glucose monitoring, which, she explains, were the best options available within her financial resources and available provincial coverage.
making personal sacrifices to access necessary tools
“i was very physically active, so my next challenge was figuring out how to safely participate in exercise and sport, including competitive curling, cycling, running, trail running, backcountry hiking, and canoeing,” says nikki. “i quickly found that finger pokes were not sufficient to properly manage my blood sugars during activity and feel safe in some of the more remote areas, so i was determined to figure out a better solution. at that time, a continuous glucose monitor (cgm), the solution i needed, was not covered by the province of manitoba, so i made personal sacrifices to afford one, paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.”
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over the next few years, nikki completed her master’s degree in community nutrition, obtained her certification as a diabetes educator, and continued volunteering with diabetes canada at local events. at the invitation of a local staff member, nikki connected with her next community when she joined diabetes canada’s team of volunteer advocates pushing for expanded government coverage of continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps in manitoba.
joining a community of advocates, sharing her story
as a volunteer advocate, nikki spoke to elected officials alongside diabetes canada’s government affairs, advocacy and policy team, to raise awareness of the challenges of living with diabetes, including the high out-of-pocket costs. in manitoba, people living with diabetes can pay as much as $9,475 to manage their condition. nikki’s commitment to diabetes advocacy became even more personal as she started planning a family.
nikki explains: “the cgm was a game changer, but i knew i needed an insulin pump before taking this next step. for me, a successful pregnancy meant keeping my blood glucose levels in a safe range that i could feel comfortable with, without concern about potential complications or risks. it was so hard knowing that the existing scientific evidence backed up the use of insulin pumps in pregnancy, but that evidence wasn’t supported by government funding, so i stepped forward to contribute my story.”
“of all my years of advocacy at diabetes canada, nikki truly opened my eyes to the profound impact an insulin pump could have on a person’s life, and i knew immediately that government decision makers had to learn from her,” recalls joan king, director of government affairs & advocacy at diabetes canada. “when nikki shared her story at a reception for manitoba members of the legislative assembly, it was emotional, and there were many ‘aha’ moments for the audience. it helped them to develop a better understanding of diabetes as a complex chronic condition, and of the importance of public coverage for the tools people with diabetes need.”
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an insulin pump made starting a family possible
volunteer advocates who share their experience, like nikki, are instrumental in diabetes canada’s work to enhance public policy for all people living with diabetes. thanks to the support of nikki and other grassroots advocates, the government of manitoba has taken positive steps toward improved care for people living with diabetes, aligning closely with diabetes canada’s policy recommendations.
in 2023, the government expanded coverage for continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps and launched the manitoba diabetes action plan, with additional investments in the plan announced in 2024. the changes enabled nikki to access an insulin pump, allowing her to finally move forward with starting her family.
“the learning curve was steep, but once i overcame the hurdles, my new closed-loop system (which combines a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump) was life-changing. before getting pregnant, i became familiar with the very minute adjustments it allowed. during my pregnancy, i was able to closely monitor the impact of hormones on my blood sugars and adjust quickly,” says nikki, whose baby girl ione was born in the fall of 2024. “then, having these devices helped me navigate the fluctuations that occur post-partum and during breastfeeding. today, the system is doing what it’s supposed to: reducing the burden for the individual who has diabetes.”
pursuing new goals, advocating for greater access
continuing to tackle big goals, nikki is currently pursuing her phd in food and human nutritional sciences. as an advocate, she is encouraged by the progress since her diagnosis but calls for further government action to provide access to treatment based on scientific evidence for optimal diabetes management.
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“there is so much more to living with diabetes than most people understand,” says joan. “nikki’s story illustrates that there is no time off from its daily management, and it can have such an impact on mental health, relationships, financial security, career choice, and even family planning. advocates like nikki help not only alleviate these challenges for themselves but also for all who live with this complex condition.”
“there have been moments along the way that were really hard for me but finding community by volunteering both at d-camp and as an advocate was one of the ways i coped with the mental load of diabetes,” says nikki. “i’ve been inspired by all of the other stories i’ve heard and the people i’ve met on this journey. each story is unique, each story matters, and each story shapes the direction of diabetes care.”
for support you can trust along the way, explore diabetes.ca.
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