November is diabetes month

North East LHIN
News Release

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People living in NE Ontario suffer from some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the province. Chronic disease includes illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart conditions and more.

November is diabetes month and in a part of Ontario where rates of diabetes are higher than the rest of the province (8% vs 6%), the NE LHIN is working with partners to increase access to care and prevention management. In Northeastern Ontario, 53,000 people live with diabetes. In First Nations’ communities along the Hudson and James Bay Coasts, 24% of the population live with diabetes.

Diabetes is a NE LHIN priority (Integrated Health Services Plan, 2010-2013.)

Last month (October 14), we hosted a first-ever Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Forum. Close to 100 people participated, shared best practices on both caring for people with chronic diseases and preventing the onset of such diseases.

Delegates Actively Engaged in Discussing Four Themes:

· Tools to better share information and increase access to chronic disease care in Northeastern Ontario

· Integration/collaboration opportunities among chronic disease health care providers

· How to implement a Common Referral and Assessment Tool across Northeastern Ontario

· Increasing access to chronic disease care in First Nation and Francophone communities

A summary of input provided will assist in the creation of a NE LHIN action plan for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management.

Facts about Chronic Disease in the NE LHIN Region:

Northeastern Ontario’s health profile shows a high prevalence of chronic diseases in the NE LHIN compared to the rest of Ontario, including:

· arthritis/rheumatism - 24.0% vs.16.8%;

· asthma - 10.0% vs. 8.2%;

· high blood pressure - 23.% vs. 17.2%;

· diabetes - 7.2% vs. 6.4%; and

· hospitalization due to heart conditions - 314 vs. 216 per 100,000 people.

Learn More:

Learn more about the NE LHIN’s work on diabetes, and other chronic diseases, at www.nelhin.on.ca.

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