Diabetes financial threat to health-care system

Manitoba already has the highest rate of diabetes among the prairie provinces and experts say there could be a nearly 50% increase in new cases in the coming decade.

In a forecast released today, the Canadian Diabetes Association says the disease will cost the province $639 million a year if action isn't taken to reduce the prevalence of diabetes. Already, the disease costs nearly $500 million a year in direct and indirect costs.

"The economic burden of diabetes in Manitoba is serious and threatens the sustainability of our health-care system and the provincial economy," said Canadian Diabetes Association President Michael Cloutier in a statement.

Already, about 7.6 per cent of Manitobans have diabetes. By 2020, that number could rise to 10 per cent, or about 139,000 people. Cloutier said that's a significant threat to Manitoba's prosperity.

The Manitoba Diabetes Cost Model was created using surveillance data and economic models. It also found that Manitobans living with diabetes face the highest level of out-of-pocket expenses in the country outside of the Atlantic provinces, averaging over $2,500 a year.

This evening, in a meeting with MLAs at the Manitoba legislature, the Canadian Diabetes Association will ask for greater access to diabetes medications, devices and supplies in order to prevent complications as well as better access to doctors and specialists.