Opportunities to improve diabetes prevention and care in Canada

The prevalence of diabetes in Canada is expected to more than double by 2030. Additionally, the costs associated with diabetes have nearly doubled between 2000 and 2010 and will continue to rise unless improvements are made. Fortunately, more effective policies and programs can reduce both the prevalence of diabetes and the complications associated with the disease. We used responses from the Canadian Community Health Survey to assess whether Canadians with diabetes report (1) receiving from healthcare professionals the recommended tests to screen for complications, (2) performing sufficient self-care for their diabetes and, (3) for those in lower-income households, receiving less recommended care. The results show that only one in three (32%) Canadian adults with diabetes reported having received all four recommended tests during the previous year. Lower-income Canadians were more likely to report having diabetes and less likely to report receiving the four diabetes care tests. Only half of adults with diabetes reported checking their blood sugar levels daily, and only two in five reported checking their feet for injuries and ulcers. Improvements to adherence to diabetes care guidelines are needed to reduce the likelihood that Canadians, especially lower-income Canadians, will develop complications from diabetes. Bending the cost curve downward is possible through more effective policies and programs that prevent diabetes in the first place and that ensure Canadians with diabetes get both recommended care from their healthcare providers and enough support for effective self-care.