SHA shares Diabetes information ahead of Education Night, April 10

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is sharing some details on Diabetes ahead of the Diabetes Education Night on April 10 at the Legacy Centre. The event is put on by the Lloydminster Lions and the SHA and features two key note sessions and numerous medical information resources from industry suppliers.

Firstly, resources are available in Lloydminster to assist people with their diabetic needs as they deal with this complicated disease.

The Prairie North Health Plaza, Chronic Disease Management Team for the Saskatchewan Health Authority can provide one-on-one appointments. There are Diabetic classes and exercise classes offered.

Staff members are available to offer support:

Rachelle Moncrieff – Diabetic Nurse Educator
Nancy Johnston – Diabetic Nurse Educator
Laura Derak – Registered Dietitian

Also, physicians, and Primary Care Network (Registered Dietitians).

In sharing its resources, the SHA notes Diabetes is one of the most diagnosed chronic diseases affecting people living in Canada. Several individuals in Lloydminster have been diagnosed with Diabetes or have loved ones that have Diabetes and often don’t know where to turn to for assistance.

Looking at the statistics, the SHA notes:

The age-standardized prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased by an average of 3.3 per cent per year since 2000
Diabetes Canada estimates that the prevalence could increase to 12 per cent by 2031
Each year, there are about 201,000 new cases of diabetes being diagnosed, or 549 new cases each day
Factors that contribute to the increase in this diagnosis are aging population, people living longer with diabetes, and increasing rates of obesity and physical inactivity
All of these factors put a strain on the healthcare system, with new cases of diabetes estimated to result in $15.36 billion in Canadian healthcare costs between 2011/12 and 2021/22
The estimated direct cost to the healthcare system in Alberta from 2024-2034 will be $556 million and the estimated direct cost to the healthcare system in Saskatchewan from 2024-2034 will be $114 million.
The total direct cost of diabetes to the healthcare system in Canada is estimated to be around $18.25 billion from 2024-2034.

Saskatchewan has the fourth highest age-standardized rates of diabetes among the Canadian provinces, behind Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario. Age standardized means it accounts for the fact that some provinces have older populations, meaning they should have higher rates of diabetes too.

In Saskatchewan, diabetes prevalence is more common in men, 9.5 per cent compared to in women, 8.1 per cent. This is in line with trends observed across the Prairies and in Canada overall.

In Saskatchewan and Canada, diabetes prevalence increases with age. For instance, approximately 15 per cent of 50-64-year-olds in Saskatchewan have diabetes, but 25 per cent of 65-79-year-olds and 29 per cent of people over 80 years in Saskatchewan have diabetes.

Prevalence – the percentage of people with diabetes divided by the total population in Saskatchewan and in Canada has steadily risen since the early 2000s, which may be the result of many different factors, such as improved detection and diagnosing, an aging population and people living longer with their chronic diseases, and lifestyle and behavioral changes.

Resources available in the surrounding area and provincially (SK) include:

Diabetic Nurse Educators and Registered Dietitians
Saskatchewan:
- Endocrinologists, Pediatric Specific Diabetic Programs, LiveWell Program
- Diabetic Nurse Educators, and Registered Dietitians
Alberta:
- Endocrinologists,
- Pediatric Specific Diabetic Programs
- Diabetic Clinics
- Primary Care Networks
- Diabetic Nurse Educators, and Registered Dietitians