News Release
1999-135
November 19, 1999
Health Minister outlines $115 million Canadian Diabetes Strategy
MONTREAL - Health Minister Allan Rock today announced a five-year, $115 million Canadian Diabetes Strategy to help prevent and control this disease that is the fastest growing preventable disease in Canada, reaching near epidemic proportions. Today's announcement represents an increase of $60 million over the $55 million over three years originally allocated in the February 1999 budget.
"Between one and two million Canadians are affected by this disease and it exacts a serious toll on them and their families," said Minister Rock. "The Government of Canada has recognized the need for action and long-term commitment in a Canadian Diabetes Strategy, including an important Aboriginal component. In conjunction with our partners, the Strategy is designed to inform Canadians, prevent diabetes where feasible, and help people better manage the disease and its complications."
There are approximately 60,000 new cases of diabetes diagnosed in Canada every year. Approximately one third of persons with diabetes are undiagnosed.
This Strategy is being developed in close co-operation with provinces, territories and stakeholder groups. They include national Aboriginal organizations and the non-government sector, represented by the Diabetes Council of Canada.
The Strategy will have a national component of $67 million consisting of three priorities:
Prevention and promotion ($41.8 million)
There are two major types of diabetes. Approximately 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which usually occurs after age 40. Two major risk factors for Type 2 are obesity and inactivity, which are modifiable. The Strategy will link with healthy eating, nutrition and active living programs to deliver messages and education to target audiences on how to eat better and become more active. A sustained national focus on prevention and public education will aim to reduce the costs and harm associated with Type 2 diabetes.
Surveillance ($10.8 million)
Diabetes surveillance is key to presenting an accurate national picture of the disease, and its effects on the population. In turn, health care professionals use the information and perspective they are provided by surveillance to develop effective diabetes programs that teach Canadians how to prevent and control the disease, through lifestyle changes for example.
National coordination ($4.4 million)
To integrate activities country-wide, the Canadian Diabetes Strategy will establish a national action plan to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders on diabetes to ensure, as much as possible, that duplication does not occur and that resources put towards diabetes are used in the most efficient manner. Every effort will be undertaken, for example, to extract the maximum benefit possible for the Canadian Diabetes Strategy from the considerable resources which the government has already committed to health research through the creation of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. In addition, the Strategy will vigorously seek to lever new resources from other partners, some of which may be dedicated for diabetes research purposes. This plan will build on partnerships with governments, Aboriginal groups, and the voluntary, academic, and private sectors for a concerted effort to combat diabetes. This complements and supports provincial and territorial efforts and roles in health care service delivery and funding.
The Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative of $58 million is designed to provide a more comprehensive, collaborative and integrated approach to decreasing diabetes and its complications among Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal people are three to five times more likely to fall victim to this disease than the general population. The ADI will provide care and treatment for First Nations on-reserve and Inuit communities, as well as culturally-appropriate prevention, education, and lifestyle supports for all Aboriginal people.
"It is estimated that almost two million Canadians have diabetes. And that figure is expected to rise as our population ages," said Dr. Bernard Zinman, Chair of the Diabetes Council of Canada (DCC), a coalition of diabetes-related non-governmental organizations and federal agencies. "With today's announcement by Minister Rock, there is however, a reason to be optimistic. The DCC looks forward to working with its partners to meet the challenge of preventing and controlling this disease."
"This initiative is part of a five-year strategy which will go a long way to help First Nations citizens deal with the epidemic of diabetes in our communities. It is critical that we immediately undertake programs and projects to reverse the current trend, to ensure that public education initiatives can effectively reach all our First Nations citizens across Canada", stated National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine.
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Media Inquiries:
Derek Kent
Office of Allan Rock
(613) 957-1515
Jeffrey Pender
Health Canada
(613) 957-2988
Public Inquiries
(613) 957-2991
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