A Manitoba woman with Type 1 diabetes wants the province to cover the cost of insulin pumps for diabetics of any age.

Laura Marois has used an insulin pump since she was 18 years old. It was a welcome change from injecting herself up to four times a day with insulin.

"It just feels like freedom," said Marois."You can eat whatever as long as you know how much carbohydrates are in it."

Marois is now 28 and on her fourth insulin pump. At about $7,000 per unit, the cost of the medical devices add up.

"They’re pricey. I don’t have $7,000 laying around every five years," said Marois.

Currently, insulin pumps are covered in Manitoba for diabetics age 17 and under. Marois believes the province should remove the age restriction.

"It’s not like we grow out of it. If you have been covered before you’re 18, well now you’re used to it, and now you have to pay so much to maintain that," said Marois.

The Canadian Diabetes Association agrees with Marois. It’s currently lobbying the provincial government to remove the age restriction in Manitoba on insulin pump coverage.

"This is why it’s a very important advocacy ask that we’re pushing government to adopt," said Kelly Lambkin of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "In the end, it prevents certainly serious complications as well as a health care burden."

Minister of Health Sharon Blady said the province introduced the age restriction in 2012 based on expert advice.

"That was the place where there would be the most results," Blady explained. "I mean, for kids, this is one of those things. It’s about managing their care. For kids, it offers them some stability, some regularity."

But Blady said cases like Marois’ raise important questions about coverage. She said she’ll continue working with organizations like the Canadian Diabetes Association to strengthen care in the province.

"I just want to keep a dialogue going, and this raises a really important point about how is it we ensure that folks get the care that they want and need in the long term," said Blady.