Cost of living with diabetes can be quite overwhelming for some

As if living with Type 1 diabetes isn’t difficult enough, there is the significant expense, and for those still in school there are additional challenges.

Blood glucose testing strips cost about 75 cents each and some people need to test six times a day.

“It can cost a person $1,500 a year for those supplies,” said Emily Johnson, Alberta advocacy lead for Diabetes Canada.

People on an insulin pump, which is not an option for everyone, have the cost of strips covered, and those on low income can also claim those costs. The rest, unless they have private medical insurance, have to pay.

For some, the result may be people not testing as often as they should and therefore not managing their diabetes effectively, said Johnson. There are not always physical symptoms that would indicate blood sugar levels, and that makes blood glucose testing extra important.

Alberta’s coverage of test strips is one of the poorest compared to the rest of the country, said Johnson.

About 273,000 Albertans have diabetes, which is the equivalent of seven per cent of the population, said Johnson. Of that number, 10 per cent have Type 1 diabetes and 90 per cent have Type 2.

A delegation from Diabetes Canada, including Johnson, recently went to the Alberta Legislature to meet with MLAs and Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman about these concerns. The plan was to inform and ask for support.

Johnson says Diabetes Canada is encouraging people to speak to their elected officials, including school boards, about these issues and changes that are required.

For children in the school system, where they spend a good portion of the day, there is no provincial standard when it comes to managing their diabetes needs.

A very young student may be capable of doing the blood glucose testing on their own but perhaps could do with oversight from a teacher or teacher’s aide.

The student may also have juice and snacks to address blood sugar levels but there may be a rule about not eating or drinking at their desks. Some schools do not like blood testing to be done in the classroom.

The possible ramifications when the student’s needs are not understood are significant, said Johnson. Kids with high blood sugar levels will not learn as well. You may have one teacher who is understanding, but when your child moves to the next grade it could be very different.

Mandatory standards across the province are the solution, said Johnson. The reluctance so far to establish standards may be related to concerns about mistakes and/or liability. School staff are already recognizing symptoms of an allergic reaction and province-wide standards would help them recognize the signs of low and high blood sugar levels, as well.