Edmonton clinic launches Alberta’s first self-referral insulin pump program

Detailed summary

The Edmonton Diabetes and High Risk Foot Clinic is the first in Alberta to allow patients with Type 1 diabetes to refer themselves without going through a family doctor.

An Edmonton clinic has launched what it says is Alberta’s first self-referred insulin pump program, allowing people living with Type 1 diabetes to access consultations directly.

The pumps provide a convenient and unobtrusive method for diabetics to administer insulin. Many sync with continuous glucose monitors to adjust insulin levels through the day and night.

The Edmonton Diabetes and High Risk Foot Clinic says their program is designed to reduce barriers to care, particularly for Albertans who do not have a primary care provider.

Patients can book a consultation directly online or by phone, without needing a referral from a family doctor or specialist.

The first appointment is a phone consultation with a nurse practitioner and certified pump trainer, meaning patients can begin the process from anywhere in Alberta.

From there, appropriate candidates are assessed by a physician at their clinic in central Edmonton before moving forward with a pump start.

The clinic says there is no waitlist and most patients can be on an insulin pump within about two months.

It says that compares with wait times of up to two years through some other health clinics and hospitals.

“A referral shouldn’t be what stands between someone and the best available treatment,” said Dr. Daniel Shafran, medical director and co-founder of the clinic.

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