Diabetes in Canada: It's Time for Action
Annual Conference Draws International Diabetes Experts to Vancouver
VANCOUVER, Oct. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Experts from around the world will gather in Vancouver, October 10-13, at the Vancouver Convention Centre for the 15th Annual Conference of the Canadian Diabetes Association/Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism to share innovations and the latest research to help improve the lives of those living with diabetes and ultimately find a cure.
Unfortunately, Canada has one of the highest rates of diabetes prevalence in comparison to its peer countries. Even more concerning is that Canada's rate of diabetes-related mortality is the third-highest among its peer countries.
In fact, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes and that number is expected to grow.i It is estimated that 6 million Canadians are living with prediabetes and approximately 50 per cent of those Canadians will develop type 2 diabetes.ii Nationwide, diabetes rates have almost doubled over the past decade and, unless action is taken now, one in three people in Canada will be living with diabetes or prediabetes by 2020.
"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," says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "Our Association is committed to developing programs for the prevention and treatment of diabetes with partners such as governments, healthcare groups and industry."
Attracting the attention of provincial governments and policy makers is the frightening fact that the cost of diabetes in Canada in 2010 was $11.7 billion and is expected to rise to $16 billion by 2020, just eight years from now.
"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. 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 conference will focus on a range of diabetes-related topics including; obesity, Aboriginal populations, women and diabetes and best practices in diabetes management to novel cell-based treatments and new insights into the impact of diabetes on organ functions. Canadian country music artist George Canyon will also speak about his personal battle with diabetes.
If you would like to conduct interviews with expert speakers at the conference or testimonials from Canadians living with diabetes, please contact:
Chris Olsen, Peak Communicators in Vancouver at [email protected]
Media attendance and interviews
- Media wishing to attend part or all of the conference are invited to register. Please click on: media registration form
- A conference syllabus is available now on request
- To schedule interviews please contact Chris Olsen at [email protected]. Indicate who you would like to interview, whether you would like the interview pre-conference or during the conference period.
Conference Highlights:
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building
Wednesday October 10
07:30-19:30 Pre-conference workshops and sponsored symposiums
Thursday October 11
| 0830 - 0930 | #1 | Evidence Based Me: The Importance of Being an Example |
| Presenter: Dr. Alissa Zentner, Vancouver BC | ||
| 1030 - 1230 | #3 | Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: The Exercise Puzzle. Moderator: Evelyne Pytka BSc (nutrition), Montreal, QC |
| 14:00-16:00 | #7 | Diabetes and the Aboriginal Community |
| Presenter: Jane Harrison MSc MSW, Toronto ON | ||
| 14:00-16:00 | #8 | New Approaches to Chronic Disease, Obesity in Primary Care |
| Presenter: Sean Wharton, Burlington ON | ||
| 16:30-18:30 | #11 | Diabetes Complications, saving limbs, saving lives |
| Presenter: Perry V. Mayer, Hamilton ON |
Friday October 12
| 8:00-09:00 | #21 | Closer to a Cure? |
| Presenter: Carla Greenbaum, Seattle WA | ||
| 10:00-12:00 | #23 | Nutrition Hot Topics & Controversies |
| Presenters: Various | ||
| 14:00-16:00 | #28 | The Ages & Stages of Women Living with Diabetes, Was that a Hot Flash or Hypoglycemia |
| ` | Presenter: Maureen Clement, Vernon BC | |
| 17:30-18:30 | #34 | Hot Topic Lecture: Implications of the ORIGIN Trial Results |
| Presenter: Hertzel Gerstein, Hamilton ON |
Saturday October 13
| 09:00-10:00 | #37 | Isabel Lockerbie Address by Country singer George Canyon |
| 09:00-12:00 |
#38 |
General Practitioner Symposium including: Obesity: The Disease that Begins it All |
| Presenter: Alissa Zenter, Vancouver BC | ||
| 10:10-12:30 | #42 | Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose |
| Presenter: Various | ||
| 14:00-16:00 | #46 | 2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines |
| Presenter: Dr. Alice Cheng, Mississauga ON |
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).
Access news releases and real time updates from our Social Media Newsroom at www.pitchengine.com/cda
Follow the conference at #CDA12
___________________________
i Canadian Diabetes Association. Diabetes Fact Sheet. http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/what/facts/. Accessed October 2011.
ii Canadian Diabetes Association. Diabetes: Canada at the Tipping Point - Charting a New Path. http://www.diabetes.ca/dpr. Accessed October 2011.
SOURCE: Canadian Diabetes Association
Media Contacts:
Chris Olsen
[email protected]
604-689-5559
604-831-6778
Linda Munro
[email protected]
604-689-5559
778-839-9649
Share this article