PEI FACES SHOCKING RISE IN DIABETES' COSTS

Canadian Diabetes Association Releases Prince Edward Island Diabetes Cost Report

CHARLOTTETOWN, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Diabetes Association released the findings from its Prince Edward Island Diabetes Cost Model, forecasting a 33 per cent increase in the overall financial costs of diabetes in Prince Edward Island. This rate of cost increase is amongst the highest in Canada.

"The economic burden of diabetes in Prince Edward Island is staggering and threatens the sustainability of our healthcare system and the provincial economy," said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "It's estimated the direct and indirect financial impact of diabetes in PEI currently costs the province $61 million per year. By 2020, these costs will increase to $81 million per year if we don't take action."

The economic burden of diabetes represents only a part of the Island's challenge. The human cost of the disease is also reaching epidemic proportions in the province. The PEI Diabetes Cost Model estimates that there are currently 12,000 people, or 8 per cent of the population, diagnosed with diabetes in PEI - increasing to more than 18,500 people, or 11.4 per cent of the population, by 2020. These figures do not include people undiagnosed with diabetes or people living with prediabetes, where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for an individual to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

"By 2020, nearly 28 per cent of Islanders will be living either with diabetes or prediabetes," said Cloutier. "Turning the tide against diabetes requires a shift in government approach, private sector involvement and broad-based personal and societal change."

In order to offset the burden caused by diabetes, the Canadian Diabetes Association is encouraging the PEI Government to develop a Diabetes Wellness Program that includes expansion of the provincial diabetes test strip program to include non-insulin-dependent people with diabetes, as medically prescribed. In addition, the Association is recommending a further investment by government in insulin pumps and pump supplies for people with diabetes who would benefit as medically prescribed.

This reflects a broad-based secondary prevention strategy including greater access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies in order to prevent or delay costly diabetes-related complications.

This is the fifth provincial diabetes cost model report released by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Reports have also been released for New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. The Association continues to roll-out diabetes cost models for all provinces and territories, including Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador reports being issued this week. Prevalence rates of diabetes throughout Atlantic Canada are the highest in the country.

About the Prince Edward Island Diabetes Cost Model
The Prince Edward Island Diabetes Cost Model was created for the Association by the Centre for Spatial Economics based on the Canadian Diabetes Cost Model developed by Informetrica Limited and made possible by an unrestricted educational grant provided by Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. The two main sources of data used for the estimate and forecasts come from the National Diabetes Surveillance System (NDSS) and Health Canada's study titled the Economic Burden of Illness in Canada (EBIC). The Model aimed to integrate the administrative prevalence and incidence estimates from NDSS with the economic cost estimates from EBIC.

The Model supports analysis of the sensitivity of the prevalence and cost estimates to changes in demographic data, incidence and mortality rates by age and sex, and the average annual number of net general practitioner and specialist visits by people with diabetes. Assumptions made in this model are conservative and may understate the prevalence and cost of diabetes in the future, rather than to overstate it.

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).

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