Adults living with diabetes in Alberta can now get coverage for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from the provincial government.
There are about 1.3 million Albertans currently living with diabetes and pre-diabetes, and that number is expected to rise to 1.7 million by 2034.
A continuous glucose monitor is a device that reads a person’s blood sugar levels every few minutes and sends the information to a smartphone.
CGM coverage for children under 18 began in February 2022, and Alberta is now extending CGM coverage to eligible adults. The government estimates about 23,500 Albertans aged 18 years and older will now be eligible for continuous glucose monitor coverage.
“Managing one’s diabetes can be extremely stressful. Expanding access to these monitors for more Albertans will make their lives easier and relieve the burden on people living with diabetes,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
The province’s Diabetes Working Group put forward the expansion advice to the government.
“On behalf of the Diabetes Working Group, we are delighted that the Government of Alberta has expanded access to continuous glucose monitors in response to one of our key recommendations. This is life-changing for tens of thousands of Albertans living with diabetes,” said Dr. Julie McKeen and Dr. Peter Sargious, co-chairs of, the Diabetes Working Group.
Funding for the first two years of this program is from the Canada-Alberta partnership to improve healthcare.
