Dexcom Expands G6 Access to Indigenous People in Canada
By Andrew Briskin
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A health benefits program for uninsured individuals expanded eligibility for coverage of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to all people with type 1 diabetes in Canada, regardless of age.
Dexcom announced on Jan. 17 that Canada’s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program will provide coverage for Dexcom’s G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to all Canadians with type 1 diabetes who are enrolled in the program.
The NIHB Program provides coverage for a wide variety of medications and other healthcare services for First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada. Previously, the program only covered Dexcom G6 for individuals ages 2-19 on intensive insulin therapy. With the expanded coverage, however, all people in the program with type 1 diabetes are covered for a CGM.
Dexcom G6, a wearable glucose monitor, measures glucose levels every five minutes and sends these levels to a connected smartphone or wireless reader. Stored and displayed in a mobile app, glucose data can easily be viewed and shared between G6 users and their healthcare providers.
Additionally, using a CGM has been shown to help people with diabetes improve their glucose management and significantly reduce the risk for long-term complications like heart and kidney disease. According to the American Diabetes Association’s 2023 Standards of Care, CGM is now recommended for all people with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 on insulin therapy.
Expanded eligibility under the NIHB program could significantly improve access to CGM for First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada – vital given the impact that diabetes continues to have in these communities.
“Indigenous, First Nations and Inuit communities are disproportionately impacted by diabetes beyond childhood and adolescence, making this announcement a key step forward to ensuring better glucose control, improved health outcomes and reduced risk of developing diabetes-related complications,” said Dr. Jeff Winterstein, an Edmonton-based internal medicine specialist who works with many NIHB patients with diabetes, in a press release from Dexcom.
“CGM can help to bridge the distance between remote communities and care providers,” Winterstein said. “Dexcom CLARITY [mobile app] software allows me to remotely see a patient’s glucose data and trends over time so I can make the appropriate adjustments and treatment decisions.”
For those eligible to receive healthcare resources through the NIHB program, the expanded coverage could improve care for thousands with type 1 diabetes. For more about NIHB, eligibility, and enrollment, see the NIHB website.
