Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the federal government has tabled a new and long-awaited plan in the House of Commons to improve access to diabetes treatment and prevention in Canada.

Liberal MP Sonia Sidhu called for the new framework as part of a private member’s bill that became law in 2021.

At the time, Diabetes Canada was clamouring for some kind of national vision to address the growing disease epidemic.

In her bill, Sidhu says the framework must outline the training, education and guidance health workers need to promote the treatment and prevention of diabetes, including new clinical practice guidelines.

The act also says the government will ensure the Canada Revenue Agency administers the disability tax credit fairly and in a way that helps as many people with diabetes as possible.

There were 5.7-million Canadians with diagnosed diabetes as of March 2022 and other five million experiencing pre-diabetes, which left unmanaged, can develop into Type 2 diabetes.

(The Canadian Press)