April 18, 2019
The Alberta UCP was elected on April 16 winning a majority of the 87 seats in the Alberta Legislature. Diabetes Canada urges the government-elect to prioritize diabetes prevention and management to end the tremendous human and economic costs of this epidemic.
“Diabetes Canada congratulates the Alberta UCP on being elected to form government, and we look forward to working with all MLAs and with both parties,” says Scott McRae, Diabetes Canada Regional Director, Alberta & NWT. “Diabetes Canada wishes to partner with Alberta’s government-elect to make patients the priority in a world-class health-care system.”
It is estimated that diabetes will cost Alberta $436 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 diabetes, as well as supporting Albertans who live with it by providing access to medications, devices and supplies needed to manage their disease, costly complications may be prevented or postponed.
“The prevalence rate of diabetes is expected to rise by 48 per cent in the next 10 years, increasing the province’s health-care costs related to the disease to $633 million in 2029,” says McRae. “As the incoming government fulfills its commitment to get Alberta back to work, it’s important to recognize that 50 per cent of people living with diabetes are of working age and therefore at risk of developing the serious and often disabling complications of the disease.”
Diabetes Canada calls on Alberta’s government-elect to commit to the following:
- Support a nation-wide diabetes prevention and management strategy and collaborate with federal, provincial and territorial governments to implement the Diabetes 360° strategy framework.
- Provide equitable access to blood glucose test strips and glucose monitoring devices for Albertans living 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.
- Fund specialized devices that assist in healing a diabetic foot ulcer and reduce the number of amputations for Albertans with diabetes.
About Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada is the registered national charitable organization that is making the invisible epidemic of diabetes visible and urgent. Diabetes Canada partners with Canadians to End Diabetes through:
- Resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes;
- Advocacy to governments, schools and workplaces; and
- Funding world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure
For more information, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).