Healthy and Active Lifestyles Important for Families and Communities

World Diabetes Day Focuses on Healthy Living

Today is World Diabetes Day—a day that creates awareness of diabetes and a reminder to individuals and families about the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle to help prevent and manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.

“On behalf of the Provincial Government, I recently proclaimed November as Diabetes Awareness Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government recognizes the importance of creating awareness of diabetes as well as the role healthy living plays in the prevention and management of all chronic diseases. We will continue to work with our community-based partners to promote healthy living and to ensure programs and services are in place to effectively meet the needs of individuals living with diabetes.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services.

In the last two years, the Provincial Government has invested approximately $95,000 to help support the Canadian Diabetes Association’s risk assessment clinics, as well as its Peer Support Program, which matches people recently diagnosed with diabetes with others who have diabetes to support them in self-managing their disease.

Through an investment of approximately $225 million in the last 10 years, the Provincial Government has doubled the number of dialysis sites from seven to 14. The 15th dialysis site is expected to open this winter in Harbour Breton. Newfoundland and Labrador now has the highest number of dialysis spaces per capita in Canada.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• To support individuals living with diabetes, the Provincial Government has doubled the number of dialysis sites through an investment of $225 million in the last 10 years.
• Newfoundland and Labrador now has the highest number of dialysis sites per capita in Canada.
• The Provincial Government has invested $95,000 in the last two years to support the Canadian Diabetes Association’s risk assessment clinics and Peer Support Program.
• The Provincial Government invests $2.1 million annually for the Insulin Pump Therapy Program to provide insulin pumps to eligible individuals.

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca 

2013 11 14                                     3:10 p.m.