Category: Living With Diabetes

Never stop your basal insulin Even when you are not eating your body needs insulin every minute of the day. This insulin is called “basal insulin” which is trickled into your bloodstream to control the amount of sugar your liver and muscles make and to prevent ketone production. If ketone production becomes excessive a life-threatening […]

There has been some extraordinarily good news for people living with, or caring for others who have Type 1 Diabetes! As of 2022-Jun-24, the Government of Canada CRA will offer a Disability Tax Credit of up to $1289 per year for every person with T1D with no questions asked – indefinitely into the future. Such […]

At long last, we’ve put together the BC Diabetes Loop (Artificial Pancreas) Study and we’re pleased to share the results and analysis. Over the last 2 years, BC Diabetes has been leading the pack when it comes to using technology in the treatment of diabetes.  Our Medical Director, Dr. Tom Elliott, is an early adopter, […]

Petition calling on the BC Ministry of Health, Division of Pharmacare to: Remove the Pharmacare Deductible for Diabetes Drugs & Devices CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION AT CHANGE.ORG To: BC Ministry of Health, Division of Pharmacare Re: drugs & devices subject to Pharmacare deductible The undersigned request that the following life-sustaining drugs & devices […]

The Artificial Pancreas (automated insulin delivery, AID) is here and we are not waiting! On 2020-Aug-1 BCDiabetes began doing in-house installations of the Omnipod Eros/Dash-Dexcom G6/G7-Riley link Loop system (Dash does not require Riley link).  Although this system is not Health Canada approved, it is our default recommendation.  This is because it is a mature […]

A message from Dr. Elliott: Nobody would ever choose to have diabetes, but if you had to choose the best place in the world to live with Type 1 diabetes you might well choose British Columbia.  So wrote Dr. Ben Mammon in an email to me late Friday night, the same day BC’s Minister of […]

A Message From Dr. Elliott: I’m writing to share the momentous news that earlier today BC Pharmacare announced coverage of continuous glucose monitors, otherwise known as CGM. BC will thus join the Yukon territory, Quebec and Saskatchewan.  I trust that the other provinces & territories will quickly follow suit so that all Canadians can benefit […]

Introduction  Diabetes is a condition, not a disease. Like any condition it has to be managed, and if managed well diabetes will not significantly reduce life expectancy, increase your risk of heart disease and stroke & will not damage your kidneys, your eyes or your nerves.  Optimal diabetes control requires a partnership between BC Diabetes […]

For those living with Type 2 diabetes the benefits of reducing calories in the diet, weight loss and lower blood sugar, are well known.  While controlling diet is important, strict low-calorie diets can be difficult to maintain for long periods of time. Simply reducing calories may also not be the most effective way to lose […]

Artificial Pancreas Systems (APS, also termed “automated insulin delivery” AID systems) are here and we are not waiting! On 2020-Aug-1 BCDiabetes began supporting in-house installations of DIYAPS with the tubeless Omnipod Eros-Dexcom G6-Riley link-iPhone master branch “Loop” system. Although not Health Canada approved, BCDiabetes considers this version of Loop to be the best DIY APS […]