Oh Canada... It's DexCom time!

The DexCom G4 continuous glucose monitor is now available in the true north! I'm not exactly sure how DexCom got their device ready for sale in Canada. Perhaps the transmitter will be wearing a tiny little hockey sweater? Who knows...

Getting started looks pretty straightforward. Go to dexcom.com/en-ca and then click "Contact Distributor". The link takes you to www.animas.ca, the company that is handling the distribution for Canada. The Animas page doesn't have any DexCom specific links. I would use the "Contact Us" tab at the top right of the Animas page and ask how to get started.

I found this contact information for Animas Canada at the bottom of the Canadian DexCom page linked above.

Local Dexcom Distributor

Animas Canada

200 Whitehall Drive

Markham, Ontario

L3R0T5

General inquiries: 1-855-293-5083 or 

CustomerCare@Animas.ca

Product support: 1-866-406-4844

I'm so excited for my Canadian friends, you are going to love having a CGM!

Health Canada Approves DexCom G4

DexCom announced yesterday at their May 1, 2013 Earnings Conference Call that...

"On the international front, we are pleased to report that we have received approval from Health Canada to begin marketing the G4 system in Canada. Our initial approval is for adults only. However, we expect to file supplements seeking pediatric approval later this quarter. Our distributor in Canada expects to commence a limited launch at the beginning of Q3 with the full launch commencing before the end of Q3"

Congratulations to my Canadian friends who have been patiently waiting to use DexCom's G4 system!

Oh Canada, I have new OmniPod info

Over the weekend I received more then a few queries from fellow OmniPodders that live in Canada. All were wondering when they can expect the smaller OmniPod to arrive north of the border. So I tied a tiny electronic note to a digital sparrow and released him into the Internet. This encouraging bit of news is what came back...

"With U.S. FDA approval now in hand, we can move forward with our regulatory filings in Canada. We hope that we would begin selling the new OmniPod in Canada later in 2013." - Brian Roberts, CFO, Insulet

There you have it Canada, I hope that this was the kind of news that you were all hoping for. It's not concrete but Insulet is willing to tie themselves to a date, however vague, and I think that is worth be optimistic about. I'll let you know more when I do.

Oh, you know what, while you're here. I've been wondering this my entire adult life... What's a Canuck? Seriously, is it a bird, plant, slang or none of the above? I need to know, please. Thanks!