Health Minister Terry Lake has issued the following statement for World Health Day, April 7, 2016:

“Diabetes affects over 400,000 British Columbians of all ages, from all walks of life. With this in mind, our government supports the goals of World Health Day, which are raising awareness and looking for ways to prevent, treat and care for people living with this disease.

“Hearing your doctor tell you that you have diabetes is life changing. Diet changes, medications and visits with health-care professionals become the new norm. There will be many questions that come up along the way, but patients and their family can benefit from the many supports and resources available to help prevent or manage the disease.

“New provincial standards for diabetes care in school give parents the reassurance that their child will receive the support they need while at school. Recognizing that moms and dads can’t be everywhere all the time, these standards help and train staff to administer diabetes medications for children who are too young to safely do so themselves.

“As children age, diabetes continues to need managing, which is why the Province extended coverage of insulin pumps for patients 25 years of age and under in 2014. This provides important support for those transitioning into early adulthood.

“For adults, government provides an incentive payment for doctors, to support them in offering continuous care for their diabetes patients. And, we are increasing screening rates. In fact, about 85% of adults in B.C. over the age of 45 have now been screened for diabetes.

“British Columbians are covered more widely than in many other provinces for their diabetes medications and supplies, thanks to our PharmaCare program. PharmaCare covers 14 effective therapies for the treatment and management of diabetes, including nine oral medications and five classes of insulin. 

“While the Province does have supports in place, there is a bigger question that needs to be asked: How can we support British Columbians in taking charge of their own health to manage the disease or even prevent it in the first place?

“Chronic disease is the largest contributor to B.C.’s health-care costs. It’s troubling that younger generations are in danger of being the first to live shorter lives than their parents. Just as concerning is a study that found Type 2 diabetes is now more prevalent among children than Type 1 diabetes.

“With that in mind, we want to help British Columbians make the healthy choice the easier choice.

“For example, the Healthy Families BC strategy focuses on improving the health and wellness of British Columbians. There is a wide range of resources including help for those who smoke, dietitian services, grocery shopping advice, supports for increasing physical activity and, information on how to lower sodium and sugar intake. For more information, check out: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca

“There is also the popular Carrot Rewards app for people to learn more about healthy living or healthy behaviours and then get rewarded with loyalty points of their choice. As well, the UPnGO app helps employers create a more active workplace culture, which rewards employees through loyalty points.

“I encourage British Columbians to take the lead on their health, and this World Health Day to take that first step to live better and reduce the chance of getting a chronic disease like diabetes.”