Managing Diabetes by Karthik

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A Framework to Help End the Effects of Diabetes in Canada Canada is moving forward with a national plan of action to support people affected by diabetes.

or the past five years, Diabetes Canada, in collaboration with more than 100 stakeholders across the country, has been leading the charge for a diabetes strategy and framework to address the diabetes epidemic, impacting one in three Canadians and costing the health-care system almost $50 million daily in treatment. “As one of the only countries with a comprehensive health-care system without a diabetes framework, it’s so exciting to get to this point where diabetes is finally in the spotlight,” says Laura Syron, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “We’re on the precipice of a great opportunity here, and in the coming weeks, months, and years we’re going to ensure that we don’t lose momentum around this major milestone in diabetes by collaborating with health-care partners, governments, and people affected by diabetes.” Diabetes Canada calls on all levels of government to invest in and support the successful implementation of the framework. Federally, the organization is asking for concrete and measurable initiatives in budget 2023, including:

Access to resources to ensure those at risk or living with diabetes have access to the right supports, medications, and devices. 2. Measurable progress through the creation of a convening and coordinating body to drive and ensure accountability so effective actions are taken, progress is tracked, and best practices are used. 3. Comprehensive data with the reporting and sharing of information to create better outcomes for people living with diabetes or prediabetes. 4. Inclusive education to improve public understanding of diabetes, with inclusive tools that reduce stigma and inequities. 5. More research into type 1 and type 2 diabetes to help renew innovation. While this framework aims to address diabetes and its complications across the country, Syron says its implementation will inevitably differ between various provinces and territories, depending on regional circumstances. As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Stacey Livitski from Thunder Bay, Ont., says she’s very thankful that

Stacey Livitski

Commitment to this framework will help alleviate the burden on individuals and our already overburdened health-care system. there’s finally a comprehensive plan in place to address the growing impact of the diabetes crisis across Canada. “I’m hopeful that, as a result, people like me will be able to see and benefit from long overdue changes that will provide us with more measurable and positive outcomes. Commitment to this framework will help alleviate the burden on individuals and our already overburdened health-care system,” she says. “I urge the government to invest in the framework and implement these strategies as soon as possible.” The Framework for Diabetes in Canada was tabled in Parliament in October 2022 by the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health of Canada.

It’s been over a century since the breakthrough discovery of insulin. It’s time for breakthrough policy. Let’s act now to implement the Diabetes Framework Canada needs. Learn more at: diabetes.ca/framework

This article was sponsored by Diabetes Canada.

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Improving How We Prevent, Diagnose, and Treat Diabetic Retinopathy People living with diabetes, physicians, patient advocates, and policymakers must work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat diabetic retinopathy. Tania Amardeil

eople living with diabetes have an elevated risk of eye disease. High blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to conditions such as diabetic retinopathy. While diabetic retinopathy can initially cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems, it can lead to severe vision loss and eventually blindness if left untreated. The key words are “if left untreated,” because this pathway to blindness is completely avoidable. “Diabetic retinopathy is preventable through prompt diagnosis and appropriate disease management, and I think that’s a really important piece,” says Jane Barratt, Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA). The IFA is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) whose members are governments, NGOs, academia, industry, and individuals in nearly 80 countries.

The impact of diabetes-related eye complications Diabetic retinopathy severely affects patients’ physical and mental wellbeing, their roles and responsibilities within the family, and their ability to contribute to their community, not to mention the negative effects on patients’ families and caregivers. It affects approximately one million Canadians (or 25.1 per cent of Canadians with diabetes) and is the leading cause

of blindness among working-age adults. “Undiagnosed or untreated diabetic retinopathy will result in severe vision deterioration, which can impact all facets of life,” says Katrina Bouzanis, Program Manager at the IFA. “It can limit someone’s ability to work, provide for their family, drive, read, and more — it impacts almost every aspect of someone’s life.” Vision loss can also increase patients’ dependence on their caregivers, lead to social isolation and marginalization, and take a huge toll on mental health, Bouzanis notes. As such, preventing the disease is essential.

Diabetic retinopathy is preventable through prompt diagnosis and appropriate disease management. With this in mind, the IFA joined forces with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, the International Diabetes Federation, and the Vision Academy to undertake the landmark DR Barometer Study, a global survey of close to 7,000 adults with diabetes and their health-care providers in 41 countries.

Promoting positive change The DR Barometer Study aims to improve the prevention, assessment,

and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, and the DR Barometer Program was initiated following the groundbreaking study. “Vision complications affect patients’ ability to manage their diabetes, which exacerbates their vision problems, and it gets into this vicious cycle,” says Bouzanis, Lead of the DR Barometer Program. “That’s one of the reasons the DR Barometer Program exists — firstly to focus on prevention and secondly to improve access to care and co-ordination of care.” The ongoing study gathers input from eye clinics around the globe, including retinal specialists and ophthalmologists, staff, and patients, and assesses treatments, adherence and compliance, barriers to treatment, and possible solutions. “We’re working on translating all this information into changes in policy and practice that will improve patient outcomes and improve patient-centric care,” says Bouzanis. From prevention-promoting practices such as regular eye screenings and patient education to strengthened referral pathways, co-ordinated care models, and streamlined protocols, the DR Barometer Study and Program promise to enable patients to prevent vision loss related to their diabetes and to receive vision-preserving treatment. “We call on the government to invest in infrastructure that supports healthy aging and vision health,” says Barratt.

This article was made possible with support from a research-based pharmaceutical company.

Jane Barratt Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing

Katrina Bouzanis Program Manager, International Federation on Ageing

Visit drbarometer.com to learn more.

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It’s not a matter of if we can defeat diabetes.