Since the only treatment for type one diabetes is insulin, there’s only one option for treating the condition, according to Andrew Muirhead (pictured right), territory manager at Insulet Corporation, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference.
Around 400,000 Canadians require insulin multiple times a day with type one diabetes cases growing about 4.4 per cent per year — which is higher than Canadian population growth. An expected 455,580 Canadians will be diagnosed by 2040.
Muirhead, who lives with type one diabetes, compared the disease to being on a tightrope, balancing a host of variables, including food intake, sugar intake, exercise and activity, as well as insulin availability. “If we mess up any of these calculations, we can fall off the tightrope.”
Read: How insulin pumps can improve insulin adherence for plan members with type one diabetes
Part of that balance is preventing blood sugar from going too low — which can become life-threatening — and too high — which can lead to organ damage.
Type one diabetes can be managed through multiple daily injections, with the average patient requiring around 14 injections every three days. This type of treatment can result in inconsistent diabetes management and reduced quality of life, noted Muirhead.
In addition, diabetes management can create a large mental load on both the individual and their caregivers, with effects such as poor sleep quality, increased prevalence of depression, dread and financial burden associated with treatment.
“For people like myself, the greatest opportunity we have to simplify type one diabetes is making therapy easy to use, ensuring it reduces the mental load that has to go into the day-to-day management of diabetes,” said Muirhead.
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In the past few years, that day-to-day management has changed with automated insulin pumps taking it to another level, said Pamela Borges (pictured left), head of market access at Insulet Corporation, during the session.
These pumps can communicate with continuous glucose monitors to get blood sugar readings and deliver the amount of insulin required for the individual to keep the balance. While some insulin pump programs provide public coverage, many use private health benefits when the public coverage is unavailable or insufficient, she said.
By including insulin pumps and supplies in benefits plans, increasing plan maximums and minimizing co-pays, employers can support employees’ affordability, mental health, reduce diabetes stress and reinforce well-being, said Borges, as well as reducing the costs associated with sick leave and absenteeism.
Read more coverage of the 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference.