EDMONTON — The Alberta government is expanding its coverage on supplies needed for insulin-dependent diabetics.
Starting July 1, Alberta Health and Wellness will provide an additional $13.3 million annually for lancets, test strips and other materials for monitoring blood glucose.
The funding is expected to help more than 20,000 Albertans.
Health Minister Fred Horne says it’s important to provide money for prevention as well as treating people when they become sick.
He says that will be done by supporting and educating Albertans, and providing them with tools to better manage their chronic diseases.
The province says 53 Albertans are diagnosed with diabetes every day, and the number of cases is expected to grow by 67 per cent between now and 2030.