3. Over the next fifteen years, the incidence of diabetes is expected to nearly double to the point where one person in twelve will have or develop diabetes in their lifetime. This rate of increase qualifies diabetes as an epidemic. Given this, please tell me whether you think spending should increase, decrease or be kept the same for each of the following:

Poll Response:
	Increase	Decrease	Kept the Same	Don't know/refuse
a) Public Education about the disease	75%	1%	21%	3%
b) Early testing and diagnosis of the disease	79%	1%	14%	7%
c) Helping people change their lifestyles to manage the disease	70%	1%	23%	3%
d) Research into finding new treatments or cure	83%	1%	13%	4%

4. There are several groups that are in the position to provide information on diabetes awareness and management. Which of the following do you think would be the best source for providing this type of information? And which would be the next best source?

Poll Response:
	Best source	Top two sources
The Canadian Diabetes Association	60%	40%
Your doctor	27%	57%
The B.C. Ministry of Health	12%	30%
Your local health region	11%	24%
The pharmaceutical industry	4%	12%
Other	1%	2%
All of these	3%	4%
Don't know/refused	2%	10%

It is clear that the public does not agree with the current approach. They want to have the best medications available for those who need it, and do not want to rely on the Ministry of Health or others to make this decision. Note that the Canadian Diabetes Association was voted the best source for guidance, with personal physicians rated next highly.

The diabetes epidemic is becoming one of the most costly to the health care system. One fact recently noted was that the cost of all medicines, physician's costs, and other treatments for people with diabetes are much smaller than just the costs of the treatment of the heart disease that ensues as a result of diabetes. If we had the tools to fight the disease in its early stages, we would reduce these costs very effectively. The current policy of the Ministry of Health appears to be shortsighted. Perhaps you could write to your MLA on this matter?

Dr. Dawson is a director of the BC Endocrine Research Foundation and has been involved with the Canadian Diabetes Association for many years. He is a leader in educating general physicians about diabetes and last year received two of Canada's most prestigious medical citations. The first was the Gerald S. Wong Award earned for his exceptional efforts in assisting individuals with diabetes. The second was the Distinguished Service Award. He was chosen by his peers to receive this award for his contributions to the field of endocrinology.