Ontario invests $741 million in diabetes strategy

Ontario's recently unveiled $741 million diabetes strategy is good news for diabetics in Northern Ontario.

"This was huge," said Jennifer MacKinnon, regional director for the Canadian Diabetes Association's North East Ontario Region. "It was a very good day when this was announced."

The Canadian Diabetes Association was pleased to see its years of advocacy come to fruition. The strategy was announced last summer by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and will be implemented over four years to help prevent, manage and treat diabetes.

Diabetes is a growing and pervasive health-care challenge. The number of Ontarians with diabetes has increased by 69 per cent over the past 10 years and is projected to grow from 900,000 to 1.2 million by 2010, according to a July 2008 government press release. Treatment for diabetes and related conditions such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease currently costs the province more than $5 billion each year.

The funding includes $150 million for the implementation of an online registry.

"All Ontarians living with diabetes will be entered into this electronic registry called the diabetes portal," MacKinnon said. "The intent of the registry is to have faster diagnoses, treatment and improved management for Ontarians living with diabetes."

Diabetics can access information and educational tools through the portal to help them manage their own disease.

"The individual plays a huge role and knowledge is extremely important for them to stay healthy," said MacKinnon. "The more information and knowledge available to them, the better their health."

Physicians will be able to use the portal to obtain immediate and up-to-date information that may assist with diagnoses. It is the first step in the Electronic Health Strategy to make sure there are electronic health records for everyone in Ontario by 2015, according to MacKinnon.

Another step forward is the funding through the Assisted Devices program of insulin pumps and supplies for more than 1,300 adults with Type 1 diabetes. Sixty-two million dollars was invested beginning in September 2008. Two years earlier, the government funded insulin pumps for about 1,700 children under 18 years of age.

The insulin pump is a small, computerized device that monitors and dispenses the amount of insulin one takes. It costs between $6,000 and $7,000, with monthly expenses for supplies running as high as $3,000.

"The pump works for some," MacKinnon said, explaining that the health outcomes and long-term benefits justify the higher expense.

She said there is a subcommittee looking at the potential for offering insulin pumps to people with Type 2 diabetes, who account for approximately 90 per cent of diabetics.
Because kidney disease affects approximately 40 per cent of people living with diabetes, the province is investing $220 million to expand and improve access to services available under the chronic kidney disease program.

In Ontario, more than 50 per cent of Type 2 diabetes cases are associated with obesity, so $75 million will be invested in bariatrics, the field of medicine covering obesity, its causes, prevention and treatment. Ontario will enhance capacity, providing bariatric education and training to health-care providers. It will expand bariatric surgical capacity and establish pre- and post-bariatric programs linked to other surgical programs.

Six million dollars will be allocated for education campaigns to raise awareness among higher risk populations, including Aboriginals, South Asians, Hispanics, Blacks, the economically disadvantaged and those aged 50 years or older.

Current programs will receive a financial boost of more than $200 million to make sure the needs of people with the disease are being met.

MacKinnon said Northern Ontario is well positioned with the Northern Diabetes Health Network, a Thunder Bay-based government transfer funding agency of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which has about 30 to 40 programs throughout the North.
She said some of the funding will be allocated to ensure that programs and team-based care, typically a dietitian and nurse educator, are available in communities.

"As we see more people being diagnosed with diabetes and people living longer with the disease, we need to increase our services to make sure we can meet the need."

By mapping the prevalence of diabetes across the province and the location of current diabetes programs, gaps can be identified and addressed and services aligned.