The opposition health critic says he’s continuing to push for increased access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for those with diabetes.

The new technology allows diabetics to monitor their blood sugar 24/7 through their smartphone.

In the 2023 budget, government announced funding from the sugar tax for a pilot project to provide coverage for CGM’s, but there’s been no word on when the project is expected to roll out or eligibility requirements.

MHA Paul Dinn has long advocated for CGM coverage in the House of Assembly and was pleased to see it included in the budget, but is disappointed with plans to get the program off the ground.

Details are scarce, says Dinn, but the province is only looking to spend between $800,000 to $1-million in coverage.

Dinn says uncontrolled diabetes is costing the health care system millions each year, something that could be cut down through CGM blood sugar management.

He’s spoken with paramedics who say better diabetes management would cut down on thousands of calls for them and would free up emergency room services. Dinn calls it a “no brainer” in saving the health care system money and improving the health of residents.