The Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party was recently elected, winning a majority of the 57 seats in the Legislature. Diabetes Canada urges the government-elect to prioritize diabetes management and proven measures that will reduce risk and help put an end to the human and economic costs of this epidemic.
“Diabetes Canada congratulates the Manitoba PC Party on the re-election, and we look forward to working with MLAs in all parties in efforts to ensure improved policies and supports are in place for Manitobans affected by diabetes,” says Andrea Kwasnicki, Diabetes Canada Regional Director, Manitoba & Nunavut.
It is estimated that diabetes will cost Manitoba $137 million in direct health-care costs in 2019 with 80 per cent of those costs attributed to treating the complications of the disease, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. By investing in measures to prevent (type 2) diabetes, as well as supporting Manitobans who live with the disease by providing access to medications, supplies and devices, including insulin pumps for eligible Manitobans with type 1 diabetes regardless of age, costly complications may be prevented or postponed.
“The prevalence rate of diabetes is expected to rise by 55 per cent in the next 10 years, increasing the province’s health-care costs related to the disease to $185 million in 2029,” says Kwasnicki. “As the incoming government aspires to create a climate where all can reach their full potential, it’s important to recognize that people living with diabetes can reach their full potential given the tools necessary to help manage their disease.”
Diabetes Canada calls on Manitoba’s government-elect to commit to the following:
- Eliminate the age restriction on the provincial insulin pump program.
- Support a nation-wide diabetes prevention and management strategy and collaborate with federal, provincial and territorial governments to implement the Diabetes 360° strategy framework.
- Fund specialized devices that assist in healing a diabetic foot ulcer and reduce the number of amputations for Manitobans with diabetes.
- Establish a provincial mandatory standard of care for children with type 1 diabetes at school that is in line with Diabetes Canada’s Guidelines for the Care of Students with Type 1 Diabetes at School.
Diabetes Canada will be hosting a major health-care provider conference in Winnipeg from October 2-5, 2019. More than 1,500 delegates from across Canada will be in the city to learn more about the impact of this disease and calling on governments to support a nation-wide diabetes strategy.