With more than 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes, the importance of diabetes management through self-monitoring and blood glucose management has never been greater.

Unfortunately, approximately 57% of all people living with diabetes in Canada cannot afford their prescribed diabetes management routine, due to the costs associated with blood glucose testing supplies. 

As a result, many of these people end up developing serious life-threatening complications, which lead to poor health, increased mortality and significantly increased costs to the health system and our overall economy.

Starting June 6, the Canadian Diabetes Association is launching a Compassionate Use Program aimed at economically challenged Canadians who are unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs for monitoring their blood glucose levels.

Through this program, the Association is looking to distribute 4,901 free blood glucose monitoring kits across Canada, consisting of:

• 1 OneTouch^® UltraMini^® System Kit
• 300 OneTouch^® Ultra^® Blue Test Strips
• 300 OneTouch^® Delica^® Lancets

Patients with diabetes can apply to this program by visiting www.diabetes.ca/meter or by calling 1-800-BANTING (1-800-226-8464), option 7, to request an application.