Harper Government Announces Funding to Fight Diabetes in Yukon

November 1, 2012
For immediate release

Northern announcements kick off Diabetes Awareness Month

Fact Sheet: Diabetes Community-based Project in Yukon

(Whitehorse, Yukon) – The Harper Government kicked off Diabetes Awareness Month with two very different announcements that will help Yukoners prevent and fight diabetes.

“Earlier today my friend and Yukon Member of Parliament Ryan Leef announced that he will be running across Yukon to raise awareness and funds to fuel the battle against diabetes,” said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. “I want to commend Ryan for his personal commitment to promote good health, and for his remarkable efforts to help those living with diabetes.”

“That’s why I’m especially proud today to announce funding for work that will help people here in Yukon avoid developing this disease, and assist those already living with diabetes,” added Minister Aglukkaq.

The federal government will be providing funding to the Government of Yukon under the Canadian Diabetes Strategy. The Yukon government project, A Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Strategy for Yukon, will develop a comprehensive health-based strategy for all residents of Yukon.

“Addressing diabetes is important in the Yukon,” said Yukon Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham. “This project will look at approaches and solutions that are relevant to this community. We are pleased to partner with the federal government to further our strategy, which will make a difference in the way diabetes is prevented and managed here.”

Diabetes affects more than two million Canadians and is a particularly prevalent disease in the North; rates of diabetes in Aboriginal populations are three to five times higher than in the general Canadian population.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 per cent of diabetes cases in Canada. Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating put Canadians at risk for these illnesses, and these risk factors are growing.  A comprehensive strategy to reduce risk factors in a community-specific way is important to effectively managing diabetes as well as other chronic diseases.

Providing Canadians with information to support the prevention of chronic diseases is a priority for the Government of Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s CANRISK questionnaire can help Canadians understand the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including body weight, ethnicity, physical activity and family history.

Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
(613) 941-8189

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