Health Minister David Caplan will announce Tuesday that the Ontario health plan will soon cover the cost of insulin pumps for some diabetics.

The pumps will be available to about 5,500 Type-1 diabetics, starting in September.

The $7,000 cost of each pump will be offset by fewer health problems, according to experts.

A spokeswoman for the Canadian Diabetes Association says the investment will save money in the long run by reducing complications from diabetes, such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and blindness.

"If you're focusing on diabetes, you're actually going to be touching cardiovascular disease, you're touching kidney disease, arthritis, mental health," Karen Philp said.

The announcement does not cover Type 2 diabetics who are insulin dependent.

An expert panel has concluded there is not enough evidence to suggest insulin pumps would be effective, but the government says it will take another look at the research in about two years.

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