One of the greatest challenges we as a patient community face here in Canada is accessibility and affordability of the right medication for us to treat our diabetes. No two bodies are the same, and different medications and management methods work to varying degrees depending on the patient. There is no "one size fits all" solution to manage blood sugars. It is up to each patient and their health care practitioner to discover the most effective solution to manage their diabetes.

With the advances of research and modern technology, a variety of new injectable and oral medications have become available here in Canada, enabling patients to achieve better blood sugar control. Most of these new medications have been given a "no listing" recommendation by the Canadian Expert Drug Advisory Committee (CEDAC) and thus are not included for coverage in the provincial formularies.

The impact of this is enormous for us as patients, as these are medications we need to stay alive - and to not cover something like insulin is absurd and unacceptable.

As patients, it is time for us to take a stand! If one looks at the relative cost of a vial of insulin in the short term vs. the cost of a hospitalization or treatment for diabetes complications, the decision is clear. And what's more, OUR LIVES AND OUR FUTURES are at stake! We cannot remain quiet about this any longer.

Write to your MLA. Write to your MP. Write "Letters to the Editor" in your local newspaper. Speak up and speak out!

Be outraged. In some provinces, they are providing free needles to heroin addicts while we as patients with diabetes must pay for all these supplies to keep us alive - for a condition we did not choose. Whatever the story is in your province, get in touch with your local media and let's inundate the airwaves and print media with conversation about diabetes. This is OUR TIME!