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Canada's shocking diabetes stats in spotlight

Written by: QMI Agency
Oct. 8, 2012

Ram Krishna has lived with diabetes for 27 years. (CRAIG ROBERTSON/QMI Agency files)

Canada's high rate of diabetes will be in the spotlight when experts from around the world converge in Vancouver Oct 10-13.

They will be sharing the latest research to help improve the lives of those living with diabetes at the 15th Annual Conference of the Canadian Diabetes Association/Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism

According to the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA), more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes and that number is expected to grow. The CDA estimates that six million Canadians are living with prediabetes and approximately 50% of those will develop type 2 diabetes.

“We’ve identified steps that can be taken now that could dramatically reduce the incidence and seriousness of diabetes while we continue to work towards a cure,” Michael Cloutier, president of the CDA, said in a statement last week. “Our association is committed to developing programs for the prevention and treatment of diabetes with partners such as governments, health care groups and industry.”

The organization says the cost of diabetes in Canada in 2010 was $11.7 billion and is expected to rise to $16 billion by 2020.

“But this does not have to be our future,” says Cloutier. “Our conference brings together the leading researchers and medical professionals to look at steps that can be taken now to change this trend. The savings in human and financial terms are hard to ignore. "A two per cent reduction in prevalence rates will save nine per cent in direct health care costs," he added. "That’s $1.5 billion per year by 2020. Perhaps more importantly, people who have prediabetes can delay or avoid onset by educating themselves on how to make healthier lifestyle choices.”

The four-day conference takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

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