Letters to the Editor

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Pay for insulin pumps Letter of the day

Posted: 11/30/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

I applaud the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba for promising to fund insulin pumps for children with diabetes if elected in 2011. This is a major step in the right direction and is long overdue. Insulin pumps are an excellent way for people with diabetes to keep their condition in tight control and it is well-proven that tighter control is the best way to prevent diabetes complications like kidney and heart disease and blindness, devastating to patients and their families and the cost to our health-care system of millions of dollars.

Furthermore, insulin pumps provide flexibility and a quality of life second to none. I have had Type One diabetes for over 23 years and used an insulin pump for a significant portion of this time. I am completely healthy and having an insulin pump afforded me the freedom to go to university and graduate from medical school. I am living proof that this is an important treatment modality.

It is nice to see that one of the political parties is thinking of the future and promising to invest in a technology that will prevent morbidity years down the line. However, I challenge the Conservatives and the other parties to go a step further and follow Ontario in funding insulin pumps for all citizens, including young adults with diabetes. Young adults, especially students, tend to be in worse financial shape than their parents and it is unrealistic and unfair to expect a 19-year-old with diabetes to pay for his or her own pump with a price tag in the thousands of dollars. A young adult can derive tremendous benefit from this technology.

Diabetes is a world health crisis. If treated properly, people with diabetes can live a long, healthy, normal life. Insulin pumps can help those Manitobans with diabetes be productive, healthy members of society and in the long run save the province a lot of money.

I hope that the NDP and Liberals will follow the Conservatives in making this an important issue within the legislature.

DR. JOSHUA MANUSOW

Former Canadian ambassador

to the United Nations'

Special Resolution on Diabetes

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 30, 2009 A15

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