The Ontario government is spending nearly $10 million on health promotion programs to fight type 2 diabetes.

The funding, announced by Health and Long-Term Care Minister Deb Matthews on Thursday, will go toward local programs at seven local Public Health Units and five Community Health Centres across Ontario.

The money will help:

Screen high-risk populations and referral to relevant health services;
Encourage healthy eating and increased physical activity;
Train doctors, nurses and other health-care providers, and educators on diabetes prevention;
Pay for local campaigns to direct people to appropriate programs and services.

An estimated 1.4 million people in Ontario have diabetes ─ nine in 10 with the type 2 variety that comes in adulthood ─ and that number is expected to rise to 1.9 million by 2020.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body doesn’t effectively use the hormone. It is linked to overeating, lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle and can be treated with insulin or other medications.

The provincial government has been focused on controlling rising health-care costs by promoting healthy lifestyles so fewer people have to go to hospitals.

Ontario to spend nearly $10 million on diabetes prevention

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