Facts About Diabetes

Diabetes Kills:

	4th leading cause of death by disease
	2nd leading cause of childhood death by disease
	3 times more women than breast cancer

	Leading cause of adult blindness, amputations, kidney failure and dialysis
	Among people over 65 years of age there is a significantly higher prevalence of permanent vision loss, cataracts, and glaucoma among those with diabetes than those without
	The percentage of new cases of kidney failure due to diabetes increased from 16% in 1981 to 28% in 1996; 3,340 people with diabetes were receiving treatment for kidney failure as of December 1996

	Causes 1/3 of all heart disease
	In the 34 to 64-age group, people with diabetes have six times the risk of heart disease or stroke as do people without diabetes; in the 65 and over age group they have twice the risk
	21% of people with diabetes have heart disease compared to 4% without
	Major cause of stroke
	Heart disease is present in 75% of diabetes-related deaths

	5.9% of population over age 12 has diabetes as of 2008 (Stats Canada)
	Increased 50% in last 10 years
	More than 3 million Canadians have diabetes and this number is expected to reach 3.7 million by 2020
	Increased 50% in last 10 years
	Approximately 10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes
	The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically
	Diabetes is TRIPLE among Aboriginal people
	60,000 Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes every year
	Over 400,000 hospital days per year in Canada are attributable to diabetes

	The economic burden of diabetes to Canada is $9 Billion annually in 1999
	The economic burden of diabetes in the United States is $138 Billion annually

	The full toll of diabetes is often underestimated because people with diabetes usually die from complication of diabetes (example heart disease, renal disease)
	Research clearly supports that people with diabetes who receive diabetes education from qualified healthcare providers (diabetes educators) have improved outcomes

Facts About Northern Diabetes Health Network

Northern Diabetes Health Network established in December 1992

WHY?

	Incidence of diabetes in Northern Ontario was estimated to be 7% compared to 4% in Southern Ontario when the Network was initiated in December 1992. More recent and accurate studies such as those in Sandy Lake indicate rates there to be as high as 25%, the third highest in the world.
	People in Northern Ontario suffer the highest rates of diabetes complication and experience higher morbidity, mortality and hospitalization rates than others in the province.
	Northern Ontario residents affected by diabetes are consumers of higher healthcare cost services and experience the complications of diabetes - up to 50% in some - more frequently than their Southern Ontario counterparts.
	Prior to Northern Diabetes Health Network, there were just 7 diabetes programs (1 full-time, 6 part-time) in all of Northern Ontario compared to over 100 programs in Southern Ontario.
	Amputations are increasing yearly in Northern Ontario. Ministry stats show back in 1993/94 that amputations were up to 48% higher in some areas of Northern Ontario vs. the rest of the province. Up to 1/4 of our registered clients are registering foot complications. Cost per amputation case back in 1994 was between $16,000 (direct costs) and $42,480 (indirect costs).
	Studies clearly indicate people receiving their diabetes education from qualified diabetes educators (registered nurses and registered dietitians) have less complications and overall improved health outcomes.

WHO?

Northern Diabetes Health Network's purpose is to increase access to diabetes services in communities across Northern Ontario

The Northern Diabetes Health Network is not the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). We are two very separate entities working on behalf of people with diabetes. CDA is a "National" volunteer-based organization with a fundraising focus. Their efforts are geared toward the promoting of health of Canadians through diabetes research, awareness, and advocacy. The Northern Diabetes Health Network's "Regional" Mandate is to increase clients' access to a team of healthcare professionals with diabetes expertise in communities across Northern Ontario.

Objectives of the Northern Diabetes Health Network are:

	Increased access
	Increased access
	Improve health equity for Northerners
	Community-bases
	Established 38 new diabetes programs in Northern Ontario that provide diabetes expertise, both locally and to outreach sites in their areas, from Bracebridge/Parry Sound to the Manitoba border up to Moose Factory
	Went from 6,000 clients in March 1995, to over 29,000 in later 1998 using Northern Diabetes Health Network specialized diabetes services
	High increase circa 2002  marked a 100% increase in clients (over a 2-year span)
	High increase circa 2002  marked a 450% increase in clients (over a 5-year span)

HOW ARE WE HELPING?

	Increased wellness for those living with diabetes in Northern Ontario
	Less hospitalizations and decreased lengths of stay overall
	Decreased emergency room visits
	Fewer homecare visits
	Less federal and provincial Northern Ontario paid-out travel grants

Northern Diabetes Health Network's own corporate commitment to increasing diabetes
program services in Northern Ontario.

Internal:

	reducing number of board members (but continuing to ensure representation from all regions)
	administrative savings (presently have bare-boned number of staff for large area served). Less than 10% of the total Northern Diabetes Health Network is spent on administrative costs.

External:

	considering other partnerships for enhancement of services
	federal government
	foundation

Source:

	Northern Diabetes Health Network
	Health Canada
	Insulin Free World Foundation
	Stats Canada