Insulin pumps can help patients who are not able to effectively control their condition through the use of oral diabetes medications or daily injections.Insulin pumps can help patients who are not able to effectively control their condition through the use of oral diabetes medications or daily injections. (CBC)

The B.C. government has announced it will fund insulin pumps for eligible children with Type 1 diabetes.

The coverage will provide new pumps for approximately 200 patients each year at a cost of about $1.5 million annually, according to information released by the Ministry of Health on Friday.

Insulin pumps cost approximately $6,500 each. The ministry also announced it will cover the cost of insulin pump reservoirs for patients of all ages who use insulin pumps to manage their diabetes.

Insulin pumps can help patients who have particularly serious diabetes, and who are not able to effectively control their condition through the use of oral diabetes medications or daily injections, said the ministry.

Type 1 diabetes affects the patient's insulin production. People are typically diagnosed by age 30, but its cause is unknown, and there is no cure yet.