Advocacy Campaigns
Statement on the Future of the Ontario Diabetes Registry
TORONTO, ON (September 17, 2012) –The Canadian Diabetes Association is aware of recent reports concerning the potential cancelling of the Ontario Diabetes Registry. The Association strongly believes that healthcare providers need to have seamless access to the information they require to provide evidence-based multidisciplinary care for people living with diabetes.
To address this issue, representatives from the Canadian Diabetes Association met today with the Honourable Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and eHealth CEO, Greg Reed, to discuss ongoing delays in the creation of the Ontario Diabetes Registry, and the possibility of its termination.
Minister Matthews has indicated a willingness to work with the Association to ensure that the needs of people living with diabetes are met. The government expressed an interest in ensuring that people living with diabetes are able to access their health information, and allowing healthcare leaders access to the data necessary to make the best decisions in diabetes care while protecting personal privacy.
“Following our meeting this morning, we are optimistic that the government will work with the Association to ensure Ontarians living with diabetes receive the care they need to best manage the disease,” said Dr. Jan Hux, Chief Scientific Advisor, Canadian Diabetes Association. “The government assured us it remains fully committed to its $741 million Ontario Diabetes Strategy.”
The need for the strategy has never been greater: 1.2 million Ontarians live with diabetes (8.3 per cent of the province’s population) and this figure is expected to grow to 1.9 million by 2020 (11.9 per cent of the province’s population). Diabetes and related complications including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and depression cost the provincial healthcare system approximately $5 billion annually and this will increase to $7 billion by 2020.
Diabetes requires daily attention and self-management and unlike many other chronic diseases, diabetes can be managed effectively, allowing people with diabetes to live long and healthy lives. The Canadian Diabetes Association applauded the Government of Ontario for their commitment to a Diabetes Strategy in July 2008, which included the implementation of a diabetes registry.
“We look forward to discussing important next steps with the government and exploring timely alternative solutions to provide an effective, accessible and secure information system for people with diabetes and the healthcare providers who work with them,” concluded Hux.
-30-
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Communications Manager, Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: (416) 408-7088
Cell: (416) 407-2177
ICES and Association recommendations aligned on need for increased diabetes support in Ontario
TORONTO, ON (April 24, 2012) – The report released today by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Regional Measures of Diabetes Burden in Ontario, further supports the Canadian Diabetes Association’s call to address rising diabetes prevalence in Ontario through enhanced prevention, and serious complications of the disease through optimized care and access to services.
The findings of the ICES report including the rapid rise in diabetes prevalence, geographical variances in access to diabetes programs and services and the need to focus on populations at risk, are consistent with those of the Association’s Ontario Diabetes Cost Model and Diabetes: Canada at the Tipping Point reports as well as its Clinical Practice Guidelines.
The Ontario Diabetes Cost Model estimates that nearly 1.2 million people in Ontario are living with diabetes (8.3 per cent of the population). This number is expected to increase to nearly 2 million (11.9 per cent of the population) by 2020. The prevalence of diabetes in Ontario is higher than the national average.
“Right now, we estimate that one in four Ontarians are living with diabetes or prediabetes,” said Jim Casey, Executive Director of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Central and Eastern Canada. “If action is not taken, we’ll be facing numbers closer to one in three Ontarians by the end of the decade.”
To address the rising burden of diabetes in Ontario, the Canadian Diabetes Association has called for the government to refocus the Ontario Diabetes Strategy to implement a broad-based healthy weights strategy; a targeted populations at-risk strategy; and a secondary diabetes prevention strategy.
“Ontario must invest in prevention programs that target at-risk populations to ensure people living with diabetes have access to the tools they need,” said Casey. “This will help people living with diabetes to better manage their disease to prevent or delay serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputations and depression.”
Key factors driving the increase in prevalence over the next decade include population growth, an aging population, rising obesity and overweight rates, sedentary lifestyles and changing demographics.
The economic burden of diabetes in Ontario is estimated to be $4.9 billion in 2010 (measured in 2009 dollars). This cost is expected to increase by 42 per cent in the next decade to more than $6.9 billion by 2020 – the second highest increase in Canada over the next decade.
-30-
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Communications Associate, Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: (416) 408-7088
Cell: (416) 407-2177
Association responds to announcement of Ontario Ombudsman’s investigation
TORONTO, ON (March 22, 2012) – This week, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin announced an investigation into the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) processes for managing and enforcing the provinces’ guidelines on determining the medical fitness to operate motor vehicles. The Canadian Diabetes Association welcomes this review as it is important to regularly monitor and assess such processes to ensure public safety.
The MTO presently receives information from physicians on medical fitness to drive related to individuals managing a number of different medical conditions which could pose a risk to safe driving. Those conditions range from respiratory health, seizure disorders and endocrine and metabolic disorders, to name a few.
“People with diabetes often face discrimination when being assessed for a driver’s license simply on the basis of their diagnosis,” says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association, “The fact is, most people with diabetes can drive safely provided they are adequately informed about their condition and its management, and take the necessary action to properly manage their diabetes.”
All Ontarians, including people with diabetes, have the right to be assessed for a license to drive a motor vehicle on an individual basis in accordance with established guidelines. To ensure appropriate assessment of people living with diabetes, the Canadian Diabetes Association, in consultation with a number of experts, developed a comprehensive set of Guidelines for Diabetes and Private and Commercial Driving (2003).
The Canadian Diabetes Association is committed to working with the government to ensure current guidelines and processes are appropriately applied and managed, and looks forward to participating in the review of the current process.
-30-
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a registered charitable organization, leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our professional staff and more than 20,000 volunteers provide education and services to help people in their daily fight against the disease, advocate on behalf of people with diabetes for the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, and break ground towards a cure. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Communications Associate, Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association
Tel: (416) 408-7088
Cell: (416) 407-2177
Alberta government expands insulin coverage
EDMONTON, ALBERTA (February 3, 2012) The Canadian Diabetes Association applauds the Government of Alberta for increasing access to long acting insulin known as Lantus (insulin glargine) and Levemir (insulin detemir) for Albertans living with diabetes. This week both drugs were added to the provincial drug formulary, providing more options for diabetes patients when other insulin treatments do not effectively control blood glucose levels. Lantus and Levemir may provide up to 24 hours of blood glucose control and can help reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients.
“This is a positive step in ensuring those with diabetes in Alberta have access to medication that helps them manage their condition,” said Laura Kemp, Regional Director for the Canadian Diabetes Association, Alberta and NWT. “We applaud the Government of Alberta for providing coverage for alternative insulin therapy options.”
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. In people who have diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any or enough insulin, or is unable to effectively use the insulin it does produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious health problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, amputation, nerve damage and erectile dysfunction.
-30-
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Today, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications. For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
For additional information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Katie Ostler
Canadian Diabetes Association, AB & NWT
Office: 780-423-5722 x 240
Cell: 780-504-498
Alberta PC leadership candidate makes promise of insulin pump funding
Canadian Diabetes Association acknowledges support
On September 25, 2011, PC leadership candidate, Gary Mar, announced that upon election, his government would implement a program that would ensure coverage of insulin pumps for all Albertans living with type 1 diabetes.
“Access to medical devices such as insulin pumps is fundamental for effective diabetes management, and can delay or prevent costly, life-threatening complications,” says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association, “We applaud Gary Mar for recognizing the importance of a publicly funded insulin pump program in Alberta.”
This news comes two weeks following the release of two reports from the Canadian Diabetes Association, The Economic Benefit of Public Funding of Insulin Pumps in Alberta and Burden of Out-of-Pocket Costs for Canadians with Diabetes.
Findings of the reports show that Albertans living with diabetes face some of the highest out-of-pocket medical costs in the country. Implementing a publicly funded insulin pump program will not only improve health outcomes for Albertans living with diabetes, but will save the province up to $10.8 million by 2032.
Currently 217,000 Albertans have been diagnosed with diabetes and that number is expected to rise to 363,000 by 2020 – the highest rate increase in Canada. Without action, the prevalence rate will continue to rise, threatening both the health and economic prosperity of Alberta.
When contacted by the Association, the two other leadership Candidates, Alison Redford and Doug Horner both expressed support for improving access to better diabetes treatment in Alberta.
For more information on how you can help, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
Help protect students with diabetes in Ontario!
It shouldn’t matter where you go to school if you have diabetes – but it does.
Diabetes can be life threatening if not adequately managed and requires ongoing care and attention. The Canadian Diabetes Association is asking the Government of Ontario to work towards ensuring that all students are adequately supported and protected while attending school.
Please, stand up for children in Ontario that need your help. Ask your MPP to request that Bill 5, the Bill of Rights for Pupils with Diabetes, be reviewed by Ontario’s Standing Committee on Social Policy.
Click here to send a letter to your MPP
Aidez-nous à protéger les élèves diabétiques en Ontario!
L’école que vous fréquentez ne devrait avoir aucune importance, et pourtant ce n’est pas le cas pour les enfants diabétiques.
Le diabète peut entraîner un danger de mort s’il n’est pas réellement pris en charge, et les malades ont besoin d’attention et de soins constants. L’Association canadienne du diabète demande au gouvernement de l’Ontario de garantir un soutien et une protection adéquats aux enfants diabétiques à l’école.
Merci de soutenir les enfants en Ontario qui ont besoin de votre aide. Demandez à votre député(e) d’agir pour que le projet de loi 5, Charte des droits des élèves diabétiques, soit révisé par le Comité permanent de la politique sociale de l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario.