Diabetes Topics

• Today more than 150,000 Albertans live with diabetes
• Estimated to grow to more than 236,000 by 2016.
• More than 40 Albertans are diagnosed with diabetes every day.
• Unhealthy weight and lifestyle put Albertans at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• 2 out 3 adults and 1 out of 3 children aged 12-17 in Alberta were overweight or obese in 2005.
• 57% of Albertans are physically inactive.

Diabetes is costly.

• Albertans with diabetes pay for their diabetes medications, devices and supplies even when they have a government or a private drug plan.
• Albertans living with type 2 diabetes personally pay at least $1,636.85 each year for their diabetes prescriptions and supplies.
• That is 5.5% of the pre-tax income for someone earning $30,000 a year!
• One test strip is approximately $1. Albertans with type 1 diabetes pay at least $1,095 a year to test their blood glucose levels in order to administer the right dose of insulin.

Diabetes costs all Albertans.

• The direct cost of treating diabetes in Alberta hospitals is more than $500 million.
• Diabetes accounts for about 10% of all direct costs in Alberta's healthcare system.
• By 2016 the direct cost is projected to be $733 million - a 47% jump!
• Albertans with diabetes are 11 times more likely to be admitted to hospital for a heart attack & they will stay in hospital longer than someone without diabetes.
• One in 10 admissions to hospitals lists diabetes as an underlying factor
• That translates into 30,900 Albertans with diabetes-related medical needs were admitted into Alberta's acute care hospitals in 2005-2006.

Diabetes affects nearly all Albertans.

Albertans, who are over 40, overweight, physically inactive, have a family history of diabetes, had gestational diabetes, are Aboriginal or members of high-risk ethnic groups, or are low wage earners are all at risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

• Diabetes is 3 to 5 times more prevalent in Alberta's Aboriginal communities.
• Albertans with low incomes are 3 times more likely to have diabetes than those with high incomes.
• 77% of Albertans from Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa are at highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes costs a lot!

• 57% of Albertans with diabetes say they are not complying with their doctor's orders for treating their diabetes.
• 24% of our Association's members say they can't afford the cost of medications and supplies.
• 2 out of 3 Albertans with type 2 diabetes say they can't afford the food their doctor recommends for managing their diabetes effectively.

Diabetes complications

Canada received a "D" for diabetes in June 2007 in the annual report on the health of the Canadian economy by the Conference Board of Canada who believes diabetes is out of control and negatively impacting productivity in Canada.

• Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death.
• Four out of five people with diabetes die of heart disease.
• The risk of a stroke doubles after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes - people aged between 30 to 44 years have a 5.6-fold increase in stroke risk if they have type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness - 20% of all people with diabetes will become blind.
• Younger adults with diabetes are 48 times more likely to have a lower limb amputation than those without diabetes.

More than 50% of Canadians with type 2 diabetes are not at recommended target levels for their blood glucose levels, putting them at high risk of serious complications.

• 50% of Albertans are not getting recommended tests.
• An A1C test every 3 months
• A lipid test at least once every 3 years
• Regular blood pressure checks
• Regular eye exams to check for retinopathy, and
• Regular foot exams and assessments to check for early signs of kidney disease.

Provincial Formulary

Of the 16 diabetes medications approved by as safe and effective for Canadians, Albertans can only fully access 12 of them under the Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List (DBL). The DBL does not list 4 of the approved diabetes medications at all!