What Do I Need to Know About Diabetes in Canada?
Diabetes is a disease in which your body either can’t produce insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas.
Insulin’s role is to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Blood sugar must be carefully regulated to ensure that the body functions properly. Too much blood sugar can cause damage to organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Your body also needs insulin in order to use sugar for energy.
Eleven million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Every day nearly 500 Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes. If left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can lead to many life-threatening complications.
You can learn much more about diabetes from Diabetes Canada.
How is CARP Advocating?
One of CARP’s advocacy pillars is equitable access to and bettering of healthcare. Diabetes is of concern given that the risk of developing diabetes increases with age.
In October 2022, the federal government tabled a new and long-awaited Diabetes Framework plan in the House of Commons to improve access to diabetes treatment and prevention in Canada.
The Framework calls for governmental investments that should include improved access to treatments, risk reduction strategies, and enhanced research all with one ultimate objective—to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes. Diabetes Canada also recommends a structure to implement the framework and report back on progress.
CARP is advocating for drugs and devices that help older Canadians manage their diabetes.
How Can I Get Involved?
There are many ways to get involved. Find out more.
