Saskatchewan government makes insulin detemir more accessible to residents

The Canadian Diabetes Association applauds the Government of Saskatchewan for increasing access to insulin detemir for residents of Saskatchewan living with diabetes. Insulin detemir, also known as Levemir, has been added to the Saskatchewan Drug Formulary, under Exception Drug Status (EDS) effective July 1, 2009. As well, the updated formulary now includes NovoRapid-NOO, Apidra-AVT and Humalog-LIL within its Revised Exception Drug Status Criteria.

"The addition of insulin detemir to Saskatchewan's drug formulary, and the criteria updates to insulin aspart, insulin glulisine and insulin lispro are important steps in providing options for people living with diabetes for whom other insulin treatments have not been effective in controlling blood glucose levels," said James Gibbins, Executive Director, Prairies Area, Canadian Diabetes Association. "We applaud the Government of Saskatchewan for its commitment to improving diabetes management across the province by increasing access to medications that will benefit people living with diabetes."

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. For those living with diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any or enough insulin, or is unable to effectively use the insulin it does produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to serious health problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, amputation, nerve damage and erectile dysfunction.

The Saskatchewan Drug Plan and Extended Benefits program, administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, provides coverage for a number of drug products including nutrition products and diabetes testing agents.