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    "The Canadian Diabetes Association is pleased that the Government of
Ontario understands the seriousness of diabetes and its complications," said
Karen Philp, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations, Canadian
Diabetes Association. "Today's Throne Speech showed that the Premier and his
Ministers want comprehensive solutions that will directly help Ontarians
living with diabetes, as well as help prevent the more than 1.5 million
Ontarians at high risk from developing type 2 diabetes."
    Every eight minutes someone in Ontario is diagnosed with diabetes, and
the escalation of the number of people diagnosed with this disease places
serious pressure on Ontario's healthcare system by contributing to longer wait
times and emergency room overcrowding. One in 10 hospital admissions in
Ontario is due to people requiring acute care for heart attacks, strokes or
kidney failure resulting from their diabetes.(1)
    "Helping people with diabetes manage more effectively will help reduce
the serious complications of diabetes such as stroke, heart disease, kidney
failure or blindness," said Philp. "And that will contribute to decreased
costs for the individual and their family and decreased costs for all
Ontarians."
    Preventing Ontarians from developing type 2 diabetes in the first place
is critical to stopping the astonishing predictions of a 75 per cent jump in
the number of Ontarians living with diabetes by 2016.(2)
    "With one out of 3 Ontario children overweight or obese, we know that
they are already at very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said Philp.
"Therefore, we welcome the government's commitment to fighting childhood
obesity through prescribing healthier menus in school cafeterias, as well as
creating an Ontario Fitness Challenge program."

The Canadian Diabetes Association works to prevent diabetes and improve
the quality of life for those affected by diabetes, through research,
education, service and advocacy. With a presence in more than 150 communities,
the Canadian Diabetes Association's strong network of assistance includes
volunteers, employees, healthcare professionals and partners. To learn more,
visit www.diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

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    (1) Canadian Institute for Health Information, Jan 2007 & ICES, Diabetes
        in Ontario: An ICES Practice Atlas, 2003.
    (2) A. Ohinmaa, et al., Projection of Prevalence and Cost of Diabetes in
        Canada: 2000 to 2016, Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 2004, 28(2).
    >>

For further information: Jeremy Brace, Manager, National Media
Relations, Canadian Diabetes Association, Tel: (416) 408-7071, Email:
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