A local resident shared on the emotional and financial struggle of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the Manitoba Legislature last week, advocating for expanded funding for insulin pumps.

Jen Dyck explains after a feature story on her sister appeared on PembinaValleyOnline, she and her sister were contacted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help present to the Conservative Caucus in Winnipeg on the need for insulin pump coverage.

"It was such an important opportunity," Dyck says. "We could make a difference and help educate."

Along with reps from the JDRF, Dyck shared her struggle and how Manitoba is one of only two provinces in Canada that cut off funding for insulin pumps at 18 years of age.

"It's not really fair for Manitobans, we need to catch up to the other provinces," she says. "I just really wanted to show them how much this is costing me. I'm spending 44 percent of my income on this and that's not including saving for the actual insulin pump."

An insulin pump costs approximately $10,000 and needs to be replaced every five years, but Dyck says the equipment has been life-changing. "It takes a lot of the stress away, it improves your mental health and decreases missed days at work... it's helped a lot."

The improved monitoring improves health and quality of life while decreasing the risk of disease, which would save the government money on health care costs in the long run.

It's especially frustrating for Dyck knowing technology has greatly accelerated in recent years with insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors that send a reading to the user's phone throughout the day, yet these expensive healthcare devices aren't covered in Manitoba after the age of 18.

And while public speaking isn't her favourite, Dyck says knowing the advocacy work could improve the lives of future T1D warriors makes the struggle worth it.

To learn more, visit the JDRF website here: https://www.jdrf.ca/advocacy/accessforall/