Retirement News Canadian Diabetes Association

Diabetes is a serious and growing epidemic. Across Canada, there are 2.4 million people who are living with diabetes – a number that, by 2010, is projected to increase to three million.

A family in front of their house

The Canadian Diabetes Association works in communities across the country to promote the health of Canadians and eliminate diabetes. Our strong nationwide network of volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals, researchers, partners and supporters are committed to advancing the fight against diabetes. In the struggle against this global epidemic, our expertise is recognized around the world and directly supports the millions of Canadians who are affected by diabetes.

OUR HERITAGE

For many living with or affected by diabetes, Canada is the birthplace of hope. Insulin was a Canadian breakthrough co-discovered in 1921 by Dr. Charles H. Best, co-founder of our Association. This single medical achievement has allowed millions of people with this disease to live full and productive lives.

Very early on, Charles Best saw that the growing number of Canadians with diabetes would require an organization to serve their needs. In the late 1940s, the Diabetic Association of Ontario was formed. As the provinces and territories formed their own associations, it became clear that if the provincial branches combined their resources they could more effectively serve their membership. This culminated in the formation of the Canadian Diabetes Association in 1953.

Established more than 50 years ago, the Canadian Diabetes Association is a charitable organization that has grown to include a presence in more than 150 communities across the country. (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/about-us/who/our-heritage/ ) In the decades since, the Canadian Diabetes Association continues to offer the promise of a better tomorrow through our support of world-class research, education, advocacy and service.

RESEARCH

The Canadian Diabetes Association looks to the future with hope by supporting diabetes research. (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/about-us/what/research/) The Association was born from a conviction and unwavering belief in the critical importance of research. We fund research through the Charles H. Best Research Fund, named for Dr. Best, the co-discoverer of insulin and our founder.

Dr. Best recognized the essential need for ongoing research to gain further knowledge about diabetes prevention, treatment, management and, ultimately, discover a cure. Over the last three decades, we have awarded approximately $90 million towards diabetes research. The Association’s 2008/2009 Research Report (http://www.diabetes.ca/about-us/what/research/report-08-09/) provides a comprehensive overview of current research projects.

Pharmacist with diabetic patient

Ever since the discovery of insulin in 1921, Canada has played a leadership role in the area of diabetes research. In partnership with Canada’s world renowned clinicians, endocrinologists, researchers and healthcare professionals, our Association continues to advance promising medical projects and studies that could lead to the next great scientific breakthrough against diabetes. Funding research – through operating grants, innovation grants, clinician scientist and scholar awards – is how the Association is working to build a better future for those living with diabetes and those yet-to-be-diagnosed. Thanks in no small part to Association funded research, Canadian investigators are recognized by their international peers as leaders in diabetes research.

EDUCATION

diabetes.ca

Uniting all facets of the Canadian Diabetes Association within a single resource is what guides diabetes.ca (www.diabetes.ca). This easy-to-navigate website brings diabetes information to the general public and healthcare professionals by meeting their needs in four key areas:

Diabetes Awareness Month

Every November, the Association and its supporters reach out to Canadians with a month-long public awareness campaign. While messages and themes change from year-to-year, at the heart of the campaign is an important principle: the need for Canadians to “get serious” about diabetes, management and prevention of the disease.

Connecting with Canadians via transit signage, television and radio public service announcements, waiting room posters and other mediums, the Association’s annual “get serious” campaign is also supported by valuable information tools at getserious.ca. (www.getserious.ca)

World Diabetes Day – November 14

Uniting Canadians who are living with diabetes, affected by diabetes and who advocate an end to the disease, World Diabetes Day is an important way in which the Association and its supporters raise awareness about the global epidemic.

Internationally, November 14 marks the birthday of Sir Frederick G. Banting, co-discover of insulin, with special events and activities, monuments lit in blue light (the international colour of diabetes) and citizens of the world uniting to rally against the disease. Learn more about how the Association is making the United Nations’ international focus on diabetes as a serious health pandemic relevant to Canadians by visiting worlddiabetes.ca (www.worlddiabetes.ca) today.

2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines

The Association continues to set a global standard with the release of the Canadian Diabetes Association’s 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/for-professionals/resources/2008-cpg/) Designed for use by physicians and healthcare providers, new guidelines are released once every five years, and developed by an Expert Committee of volunteers from the Association’s Clinical & Scientific Section.

In the Guidelines, the Committee’s 99 professionals, representing a broad range of health disciplines, bring together the best international evidence to guide screening, prevention, diagnosis, care, management and education for Canadians living with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

The 2008 Guidelines feature nine new chapters covering such areas as the treatment of diabetes in patients with heart failure, type 2 diabetes in high-risk populations, and self-management. There is also a new section on ‘Diabetes in Children’; expanded information on cardiovascular disease; type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes; as well as the benefits of lifestyle management, including physical activity, healthy meal planning and smoking cessation.

Membership with Benefits

If you’d like to have the latest diabetes news and information delivered to your doorstep every three months, consider becoming a member of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Published quarterly by the Canadian Diabetes Association, Diabetes Dialogue is Canada’s only health and wellness magazine dedicated to living life to the fullest while living with diabetes.

Get the latest information on nutrition, research, exercise, medical updates, lifestyle management, advocacy and resources. Special theme issues of Diabetes Dialogue have included women’s health, nutrition, children, Aboriginal issues, and obesity.

Subscribe to Diabetes Dialogue today (http://www.diabetes.ca/files/diabetes_dialogue_subscription_form.pdf)

ADVOCACY

The costs of diabetes are quite simply overwhelming. Diabetes and its complications are the leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and limb amputations. The costs of diabetes are significant – diabetes and its complications cost the Canadian healthcare system billions of dollars each and every year.

For an adult with type 1 diabetes, the cost of insulin pumps and supplies that can help them better regulate their diabetes is all too often out of reach. Improving access to diabetes education, pumps, supplies and support helps people to live better with the disease and, down the road, minimize some of the most serious complications of diabetes.

The Association and our volunteers continue to be instrumental in raising the profile of diabetes across Canada. From supporting the federal government’s investment in community-based diabetes programs to helping put diabetes in the spotlight to support prevention and management of the disease, the Association leads the fight against diabetes.

Our advocacy (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/about-us/what/advocacy/) efforts have a positive impact on provincial and federal governments’ healthcare policies. Most recently, provincial governments across Canada have committed new funding for diabetes. From expanding existing insulin pump and supplies programs to cover individuals aged 18 years and older to covering the cost of blood glucose test strips and supporting the addition of new diabetes medications to public drug plan formularies, the Association is advocating a healthier future for Canadians.

SERVICE
Through our Public Programs and Services, the Canadian Diabetes Association reaches out to those who are living with diabetes and their caregivers. Each year, thousands of people learn about the latest advances in diabetes management and care thorough public information events (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/about-diabetes/) hosted by Association employees and volunteers. Most recently, almost 7,000 people took part in a record 20 Live Smart Diabetes Expos and close to 135,000 people attended Level 2 Expos, health fairs and information sessions across Canada.

Our National Contact Centre [1-800-BANTING (226-8464)] responds to almost 50,000 phone and e-mail requests for information, helping people living with or affected by diabetes.

Diabetes Summer Camps

Kids at camp

The Canadian Diabetes Association has long recognized the value of the camping experience for young people with diabetes. In fact, we have been running camps for more than 50 years and are continually expanding our national camping program. Today, the Association has 12 residential camps across the country and a number of “family camps” – weekend getaways for children with type 1 diabetes and their entire families.

The camps are a very positive experience for the children and often a great learning opportunity. The kids meet other kids just like them; they are supported and invited to talk openly about their diabetes in a compassionate setting.

Every summer in Canada, more than 1,500 young people between the ages of seven and 16 attend one of the Association camps for one or two weeks. Doctors, nurses, dietitians and students in the healthcare professions are on hand to meet all the children’s medical and dietary needs.

Learn more about Canadian Diabetes Association Diabetes Summer Camps (http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/helping-you/camps/)

Promoting Canadian Health
                                                                                   
When it comes to promoting the health of Canadians, the Association leads by word and example. Through our educational efforts, we raise public awareness about the healthy lifestyle choices individuals can make in order to prevent and better manage diabetes. At the same time, our organization sets a standard for responsible fundraising through programs that take into account the health of our planet.

Combining fundraising with fitness, Team Diabetes (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/get-involved/supporting-us/team-diabetes/) leads by setting a healthy example. Most recently, Team Diabetes fielded 593 runners in 13 marathons across Canada and around the world. A host of new locations are continuously added to Team Diabetes walking and running roster, including three new international events (Barcelona, Disney World, Rio de Janeiro) and five Canadian events (Calgary, Halifax, Okanagan, Ottawa and Vancouver).

Connecting the health of our environment with the diabetes cause, our fundraising recycling programs (http://www.diabetes.ca:80/get-involved/supporting-us/) are helping the Association to gain momentum as a model of a responsible citizenship.

Clothesline® helped divert 53 million kilograms of clothing and household items from landfills across the country. Diabetes Recycle Ink collected more than 13,000 printer cartridges and Project Redial® accepted more than 17,000 cell phones. Our car recycling program helped remove almost 10,000 used and pollution-generating vehicles from Canadian roads. To find a nearby Clothesline® donation box (http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/supporting-us/clothesline/find-a-dropbox/) and support the Association with your reusable clothing and household items, simply visit diabetes.ca today!

Looking to the Future with Hope

A significant concern for the Canadian Diabetes Association is prediabetes. (http://www.diabetes.ca:/about-diabetes/what/prediabetes/) It is estimated that six million Canadians have prediabetes, and, if left untreated, approximately 25 per cent of them will develop type 2 diabetes within three to five years.

The good news is that many people with prediabetes can delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making lifestyle changes today. People can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 50 per cent by getting active, losing weight and eating well. To learn about risk factors (http://www.diabetes.ca:/about-diabetes/what/prediabetes/) for prediabetes and some of the simple preventative steps you can take, visit diabetes.ca (www.diabetes.ca) today.

Through our strong nationwide network of volunteers, employees and supporters, the Canadian Diabetes Association works to support the needs of the Canadians who are living with diabetes, promote healthy lifestyle choices and, by funding research, help to eliminate diabetes. Together, we are delivering hope to Canadians who are today living with or affected by diabetes as well as to those who may be diagnosed in the future.

To learn more about the Canadian Diabetes Association, or to make a donation, please visit www.diabetes.ca