Saskatchewan Diabetes Rates are Rising – Urgent Changes Needed
In the next decade, the number of people in Saskatchewan diagnosed with diabetes will increase by 35 per cent. It’s estimated the number of people living with diabetes in Saskatchewan will grow to 100,000 in 2017, up from 97,000 in 2016. In addition, a further 176,000 are expected to be living with prediabetes and another 43,000 living with undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes is also a burden on the economy—costing Saskatchewan’s health-care system $99.8 million a year in direct costs including hospitalizations, doctor visits and inpatient medications.
A recent report from the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA), Report on Diabetes in Saskatchewan, indicates that immediate changes are required to support people living with diabetes in the province. The report analyzes the latest data on diabetes in Saskatchewan, outlines critical areas of support needed and highlights stories of people living with diabetes in the province.
“Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in Canada including right here in Saskatchewan,” says Brie Hnetka, regional director for Saskatchewan, CDA. “Not only is the number of people with diabetes growing, but so are the serious complications they experience such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and limb amputation. There is no mistaking the seriousness—diabetes is not only a personal crisis for individuals living with the disease and for their families, but for the province as well—that’s why it’s critical for government to take immediate action.”
Risk factors such as high rates of overweight and obesity in adults and youth; lack of physical activity and a healthy diet; and tobacco use among people in Saskatchewan will continue to drive type 2 diabetes prevalence in the province. Approximately 57 per cent of adults and 20 per cent of youth are either overweight or obese. The prevalence of most of these risk factors in the province remained consistently higher than the Canadian average over the past decade. Lifestyle is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but family history, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, and environment also play a significant part. Given the large community of Indigenous Peoples in this province, diabetes and associated risk factors along with the lack of access to essential supports for healthy living demand attention.