Kidney Exchange Registry Goes National

Living Donor Paired Exchange becomes first Canada-wide organ donation registry

OTTAWA, November 30, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Yesterday, the Living Donor Paired Exchange performed the first match run to include kidney patients and donors from all across Canada. In doing so, it became the first Canada-wide organ donation registry.

The LDPE registry facilitates living kidney donations between patients with a willing but incompatible donor and another pair in the same situation. It is a partnership between Canadian Blood Services and transplant programs across the country, and was launched as a three-province pilot in January 2009. Since then, all other provinces have gradually joined the registry, and with Quebec firming up its participation in October, the initiative has become Canada-wide in scope.

"The inclusion of all provinces in the LDPE is a significant development for patients as it increases the pool of donors. And of course the larger the pool, the more likely patients are to find a match and receive the transplant they need," said Dr. Graham Sher, CEO, Canadian Blood Services. "This is a prime example of how better collaboration and integration can improve donation and transplantation rates in this country, and ultimately, save more lives. It is what sets top performing countries apart."

The LDPE has registered 185 donor/recipient pairs from across the country, and has been responsible for facilitating 57 kidney transplants since the launch with an additional 16 scheduled for surgery in the weeks ahead.

Critical to the registry's success has been the inclusion of non-directed donors - a person who is entered into the registry, unpaired and willing to donate to any one in need. "Non-directed donors are selfless heroes that have created 'domino exchanges' which are responsible for 45 of the 57 transplants to date," said Dr. Ed Cole, Chair of the National Kidney Registries Advisory Committee and University Health Network Physician-in-Chief. "Non-directed donors greatly increase the number of available matches, but best of all, since they enter as a single rather than a pair, it means that at the end of the domino chain, one patient on the deceased donor waiting list also gets a transplant."

In addition to going Canada-wide, the registry has celebrated some other important milestones of late, including:

...the first LDPE surgeries performed in the province of Nova Scotia;

...the first patients in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving transplants;

...matches and transplants for highly sensitized (difficult-to-match) patients;

...and first instance where kidneys were shipped as part of a living donor exchange from one Canadian centre to another, demonstrating that transporting the kidney rather than the donor is feasible in some circumstances.

"A transplant is generally the preferred treatment for people whose kidneys have failed but far too many patients are dying while waiting" said Paul Shay, National Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. "Each kidney transplant saves the health care system up to $40,000 annually. The 57 transplants that have happened as a result of this registry will save the system millions of dollars and improve the quality of life of the transplant recipients beyond any monetary value."

The concept of a national registry for LDPE was proposed by the Canadian Society for Transplantation and the Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation (merged with Canadian Blood Services). It was developed, implemented, and is currently operated by Canadian Blood Services. Two more registries - the national organ urgent wait list and a registry for highly sensitized (difficult-to-match) kidney patients are now in development and are planned for roll-out in 2011.

Delivering these registries is part of the mandate Canadian Blood Services was given by the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health in 2008 to help improve Canada's performance in organ and tissue donation and transplantation (OTDT). The mandate also included assuming the activities of the former Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation (CCDT), as well as leading the efforts of the OTDT community to design an integrated system to improve clinical patient outcomes, increase the quality of life for patients, and improve the system's efficiency.

About Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 43 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system. For more information, please visit: www.blood.ca. For information on living donation or the registry, please visit: www.blood.ca/organsandtissues and click on "Living Donation".

Housing benefit smart policy for Ontario's families

TORONTO, November 29, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The provincial commitment to a new Housing Benefit is a major step forward in addressing the economic pressures facing low-income Ontarians, says a diverse coalition of non-profit housing providers, private sector landlords, food banks and policy experts.

"We are very pleased that the government has made the important decision to explore an Ontario Housing Benefit," said Gail Nyberg, Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank. "The Housing Benefit is the next step in strengthening Ontario's income security system and improving housing affordability. We look forward to working with the government on the new benefit."

Released today, Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy commits to exploring a new Ontario Housing Benefit. Unlike other provinces, the only permanent housing benefit provided in Ontario is paid exclusively to social assistance recipients. The working poor do not get any on-going help to cover the cost of their housing making the transition from social assistance to the labour market more difficult.

"A new Housing Benefit is an important tool in the strategy's toolbox that will provide affordable housing in Ontario," said Sharad Kerur, Executive Director of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. "It can help to bridge the affordability gap between what housing costs and what people can afford."

A coalition of industry and community organizations has developed a detailed proposal to help low-income working age renters with high shelter-to-income burdens in communities across Ontario, particularly in the Ottawa and Greater Toronto Areas where rents are higher. In the proposal, the average benefit for unattached, low-income single adults would be $96 per month, and $119 per month for families.

"Now is the right time to take action on a Housing Benefit that balances Ontario's fiscal circumstances and the pressures facing low-income families. A carefully designed, fiscally prudent Benefit is smart policy to help low-income renters make ends meet," said Vince Brescia, President and CEO of the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario.

A Housing Benefit was specifically referenced by the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council in its recent report as a next step in the modernization of income security programs in the province.

The Housing Benefit Working Group is a unique coalition that includes both private sector and front-line agencies that work with low-income communities on the ground, including: Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario; Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association; Greater Toronto Apartment Association; Daily Bread Food Bank; Ontario Campaign 2000; Metcalf Charitable Foundation; and Atkinson Charitable Foundation.

Flu folly: Seasonal flu is serious, but many are unaware they are at high risk for major complications, and unsure about what to do if they get sick

Recent poll of at-risk Canadians shows they don't have all the facts

TORONTO, November 25, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - You're burning hot one minute, and freezing cold the next; you feel achy from your head to your toes; and that box of tissues barely lasts you an hour. Although you washed your hands meticulously and loaded up on Vitamin C, you realize it was inevitable: you are one of the eight million Canadians to contract the seasonal flu this year.

While the flu is a pain for most - days in bed and hours lost from work - for some it can be much more serious. In fact, certain populations, including people 65 and older, pregnant women and those with a chronic illness such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are at an increased risk of developing serious complications from the flu. In some instances - up to 8,000 cases in Canada each year - the flu can be fatal.

A recent poll of at-risk Canadians sponsored by the Ontario Lung Association reveals that while many Ontarians recognize how serious seasonal influenza can be, most aren't taking the proper steps to protect themselves. Surprisingly, many at-risk Canadians don't even realize that they are at increased risk of complications for "the flu" and brush it off as "no big deal."

"The flu is extremely common, especially during this time of year, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored," says Dr. Anthony D'Urzo, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. "Canadians who may be at increased risk of complications from the flu need to be particularly vigilant - and that means knowing what to do as soon as symptoms appear."

Smokers' Helpline Text Messaging Program in Ontario Recognized for Outstanding Research at the International 2010 mHealth Summit

Canadian Cancer Society and Evolution Health's joint abstract receives prestigious Meritorious New Investigator Award

TORONTO, November 23, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadian researcher and Evolution Health Systems Inc. CEO Trevor van Mierlo was one of six researchers honoured with the Meritorious New Investigator Award at the mHealth Summit in Washington, D.C. on November 9. Van Mierlo is the principal author on the abstract "From Web to Text: Smokers' Helpline.ca and the Integration of mHealth," which was the subject of the award.

The mHealth Summit explores ways that mobile technology can increase the access, quality and efficiency of healthcare around the world. With the aim to build awareness and inspire action around how mobile technology can improve lives, the 2010 summit featured keynote addresses from Bill Gates.

"We are truly grateful for the recognition by the mHealth scientific abstract review committee," said van Mierlo. "There were hundreds of extremely high quality presentations and posters. It's exciting to see the momentum gaining behind these types of programs that we've been working on for so long. We've moved from potential to reality and are very encouraged to continue to innovate and evaluate mobile health services."

The presentation examined the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline Text Messaging service, available free to Ontario residents at www.smokershelpline.ca. Users opt in to the service by completing a brief, anonymous registration that enables a series of tailored messages to be sent to the quitter's cell phone. The project has been running for a year and has already helped hundreds of smokers get support to quit.

The joint presentation was also unique because it was the only awarded abstract examining an operational program rather than a research or pilot project.

"Text Messaging is a new and innovative extension of our services that help tobacco users with quitting," says Donna Czukar, acting Senior Director, Public Affairs at the Canadian Cancer Society. "People can get support 'on the go' in a way that is customized to their needs and preferences."

About Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline: Smokers' Helpline is a free, confidential service that offers support, advice and information about quitting smoking and tobacco use. Available by phone, online and text messaging, Ontarians can access support seven days a week at 1 877 513-5333 and SmokersHelpline.ca.

Ontario Drivers Show Slight Improvement, Allstate Canada Study Shows

Ontario's car collision rates analyzed in Allstate Canada's Ontario Safe Driving Study
Belleville ranked first in list of safest drivers, Brampton the bottom The two most improved communities in Ontario were Guelph and Georgetown

TORONTO, November 22, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Allstate Insurance Company of Canada released today its second annual Ontario Safe Driving Study, which ranks Ontario communities based on Allstate Canada data over a three year period (2007-2010). According to the study, Belleville had the lowest frequency of car collisions in all of Ontario, while Brampton had the highest among the 50 communities surveyed. In addition to Brampton (No. 50), the communities with the highest frequency of collisions were all within a 45 minute drive of Toronto: Ajax (No. 49), Maple (No. 48) and Thornhill (No. 47). Toronto (No. 46) itself ranked better than these nearby suburban communities. Overall, Ontario drivers had a 2.2 per cent decrease in the frequency of collisions between the 2009 Ontario Safe Driving Study and the study released in 2010.

"Allstate Canada's Ontario Safe Driving Study revealed a slight improvement in Ontario's drivers," said Tony Irwin, official spokesperson for Allstate Canada. "Governments should be asking themselves and the public what can be done in their communities to continue to improve the safety of our roads."

In last year's inaugural Ontario Safe Driving Study, which looked at Allstate Canada data from 2006-2009, St. Thomas placed as the safest driving community. In the 2010 Ontario Safe Driving Study, St. Thomas fell to number four on the list and also had a 33.8 per cent increase in the frequency of collisions—the largest increase of all ranked communities.

The Ontario Safe Driving Study ranks communities, as well as regions, in terms of car collision frequency to identify which communities have the safest drivers according to Allstate Canada data. The study spans a three-year period from 2007-2010 and also offers a comparison to the data from the 2009 study, which looked at results from 2006-2009.

Other highlights from Allstate Canada's 2010 Ontario Safe Driving Study:

...The two most improved communities in Ontario were Guelph and Georgetown. Guelph had a 19.4 per cent decrease in the rate of collisions and Georgetown saw a 12.4 per cent decrease.

...Innisfil and Thornhill, which both had a 10.8 per cent decrease in the rate of collisions, tied in third place for most improved.

...With the exception of Belleville, which had a 2.8 per cent frequency of collisions, the five communities with the lowest collision frequency in the 2010 Ontario Safe Driving Study were all in southwestern Ontario. The communities were Welland (3.1 per cent), Woodstock (3.2 per cent), St. Thomas (3.4 per cent) and Amherstburg (3.4 per cent).

...The three cities with the largest increases in the frequency of collisions between the studies conducted in 2009 and 2010 were St. Thomas (33.8 per cent), Bradford (25.6 per cent) and North Bay (10.4 per cent).

To see the complete 2010 Ontario Safe Driving Study visit
http://goodhandsadvice.ca/media/2010-ontario-safe-driving-study-results.pdf

"We are pleased to see a decrease in the frequency of collisions throughout the province," said Irwin. "Even a small change can show that the importance of safe driving is resonating with drivers."

To encourage all drivers to use safe driving practices to keep our communities and roads safer, Allstate Canada offers some practical advice on how to get started. Click here for safe driving tips. Visit goodhandsadvice.ca for more information.

Good News for Kidney Patients: World's Largest Kidney Disease Trial Shows Big Benefits From Reducing Cholesterol

DENVER, Colorado USA November 20, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Around a quarter of all heart attacks, strokes, and operations to open blocked arteries could be avoided in people with chronic kidney disease by using the combination of ezetimibe and simvastatin to lower blood cholesterol levels. That's the conclusion from the world's largest ever randomized trial in kidney disease.

Unveiling the key findings today (Saturday 20 November) at the American Society of Nephrology, the trial's principal investigator Professor Colin Baigent said: "This is excellent news for patients who have kidney disease. It was already known that cholesterol-lowering could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and the need for surgery to unblock arteries in people with normal kidney function. But, this trial now shows that cholesterol-lowering has similar effects in people with chronic kidney disease, irrespective of the severity of their illness. Taking ezetimibe plus simvastatin long-term would avoid around one quarter of heart attacks, strokes and operations to unblock arteries, leading to their prevention in at least 250,000 people with kidney disease worldwide each year."

The Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) involved almost 9,500 volunteers aged 40 or over with chronic kidney disease recruited from 380 hospitals in 18 countries. Patients included in the trial had lost at least 50% of their normal kidney function, with a third of them requiring dialysis treatment. None had had a previous heart attack or needed bypass surgery or "stents" to unblock their heart arteries. Volunteers in this double-blind placebo-controlled trial were randomly allocated to take either cholesterol-lowering therapy with a tablet containing ezetimibe 10mg daily and simvastatin 20mg daily, or matching dummy "placebo" tablets. Study treatment and follow-up continued for an average of 5 years.

SHARP was designed, conducted and analysed independently of all funding sources by the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU) of Oxford University, with guidance by an independent Steering Committee that included many of the world's leading kidney specialists. The study was supported by Merck & Co., (which is known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada) who also supplied the study treatments, with additional support from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). Planning began in the mid-1990s, with two pilot studies followed by a main study that started in 2003 and ended in September of this year.

Summary of major findings

...The patients allocated to take ezetimibe plus simvastatin had one-sixth fewer heart attacks, strokes or operations to unblock arteries ("major atherosclerotic events"), with similar reductions observed in all types of patient studied.

...During this long trial, the proportion of patients who stopped taking their allocated treatment was about one third, but this was not generally due to side-effects and was the same for both real and dummy treatments. If taken without interruption, however, ezetimibe plus simvastatin could have even larger effects than were seen in SHARP, potentially reducing risk by about one quarter.

...Adding 10mg daily of ezetimibe to 20mg daily of simvastatin produced a large reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol safely. This combination treatment may be particularly good for kidney patients, as it avoids the possibility of side-effects with high statin doses.

...There was no support for previous concerns with ezetimibe about possible adverse effects on cancer, and no evidence of an increased risk of muscle or liver problems.

Professor Baigent said:

"We knew from previous trials that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with normal kidney function. But it had been widely believed that raised cholesterol was not an important cause of heart disease or stroke in people with chronic kidney disease, so that lowering cholesterol might not be beneficial for them. SHARP now provides the first direct evidence that cholesterol-lowering is indeed effective in kidney patients, and that the benefits are substantial."

SHARP co-principal investigator, Dr Martin Landray said that SHARP provides reassuring evidence about the safety of the ezetimibe and simvastatin combination:

"There was no evidence of any serious adverse effects and, in particular, no support for earlier concerns that ezetimibe might cause cancer. SHARP shows clearly that the large cholesterol reduction produced with this treatment is safe, and provides similar benefits to those seen in people with normal kidney function."

The SHARP results are also relevant to people who don't have chronic kidney disease. The combination of ezetimibe and a statin produced similar benefits to those resulting from the same LDL cholesterol reduction achieved with a high dose of a statin. Since the lower the cholesterol the bigger the risk reduction, these results suggest that patients who remain at high risk of major atherosclerotic events despite maximal statin therapy may benefit further from adding ezetimibe to their current statin regimen.

Chronic kidney disease affects about one in 10 people worldwide. People with chronic kidney disease tend to have a very high risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a stroke. Until now, it has not been known how to prevent these conditions in such patients. Consequently, it is likely that the SHARP results will result in cholesterol-lowering treatment being used widely in this large group of high-risk people who were previously not being given such treatment.

Weblink: www.sharpinfo.org

Health Council of Canada releases 2010 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey results

Canadians visiting emergency departments for care, instead of seeing primary health care providers

TORONTO, Novovember 19, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, the Health Council of Canada released survey results from the 2010 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey. The bulletin called, How Do Canadians Rate the Health Care System? examines Canadians' insights into the performance of the health care system.

The survey results indicate that although, Canadians' overall view of the health care system has improved over time, they recognize the need for key improvements to the system. Over half of Canadians surveyed feel that fundamental changes are required to make the system work better.

"Canadians are saying that they want to keep Medicare. They believe the quality of medical care is excellent, but are not happy with their ability to access care in a timely and coordinated way. There are gaps that can be fixed in order to improve our current system," said John G. Abbott, CEO, Health Council of Canada. "This message is consistent with the Romanow Commission Report that was released in 2002."

The survey shows that of all the countries surveyed, Canada fares worst when it comes to access to care after hours - anywhere other than the emergency room. In fact, 37% of Canadians say it is very difficult to get care in the evenings, weekends, or holidays without going to the emergency department. Furthermore, in the last two years, almost half (47%) of Canadians who went to an emergency department yet have a regular doctor said they could have been treated by their regular care provider had he or she been available.

"This means that Canadians may be inappropriately using emergency departments because they do not have adequate access to their primary care giver," says Abbott. "…which is overburdening hospitals and has an overall negative impact to health care system in Canada."

Other areas where Canada did not fare well, compared to international counterparts were around timeliness and coordination of care. In terms of timeliness, only 45% of Canadians (well under the international average of 65%) said they were able to get an appointment on the same or next day when sick or in need of medical attention. Canada ranked the worst out of the 11 countries surveyed in this area.

Furthermore, some Canadians feel that their time had been wasted because their care was poorly organized or coordinated. For example, 12% of Canadians said their test results or medical records were not available at their medical appointment.

The survey also points out that in spite of our universal Medicare system some Canadians feel that costs are a barrier to care, particularly when it comes to prescription drugs. One in 10 respondents said they had not filled a prescription or taken medication due to cost.

The survey highlights gaps in our health care system that Canadians feel need to be resolved. Canadians need timely access to both primary care providers and specialists, to avoid overuse of emergency departments. The National Pharmaceuticals Strategy needs to be implemented to ensure that no Canadians are compelled to skip or adjust medication dose due to cost. And there must be wider adoption of electronic medical and health records to improve information sharing between physicians and specialists to ensure accurate and up-to-date test results and medical records are available. The Health Council of Canada believes that Canadians have spoken clearly, with an expectation that their concerns identified in the survey will be addressed.

About the Survey

The 2010 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey reflects the perceptions of a random sample of about 20,000 adults across 11 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants were interviewed by telephone between March and June, 2010. This included 3,309 Canadians. The core study was funded by the Commonwealth Fund. The Health Council of Canada sponsored a portion of this study along with the Ontario Health Quality Council and the Quebec Health and Welfare Commissioner (Commissaire à la santé et au bien-être du Québec). www.cmwf.org.




About the Health Council of Canada

Created by the 2003 First Ministers' Accord on Health Care Renewal, the Health Council of Canada is an independent national agency that reports on the progress of health care renewal in Canada. The Council provides a system-wide perspective on health care reform in Canada, and disseminates information on best practices and innovation across the country. The Councillors are appointed by the participating provincial and territorial governments and the Government of Canada.

To download reports and other Health Council materials, visit www.healthcouncilcanada.ca.

A Vision of Home Care in Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, November 17, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) concluded its 20th annual National Home Care Summit - Imagine - with a renewed commitment to advancing access to care at home across the country.

Currently, in the absence of a federal framework for home care, there is wide variability in eligibility, access and services in Canada. The CHCA conference, held November 3-5 in Quebec City, provided an opportunity for the 450 delegates - researchers, policy makers, administrators, suppliers and providers - to discuss advancements and strategies to support enhanced home care in Canada.

Achieving new levels of excellence was a theme threading through the presentations and effectively captured by Clara Hughes, Olympic medalist, who inspired people to excel in their service to others. Participants debated and discussed the future of health care for seniors who want to remain at home for as long as possible; to look at technology applications as enablers of home care provision and client independence ; and to consider the needs of family caregivers - a constituent that is vital to the success of home care.

"We are very pleased by the energy and commitment to enhancing home care across Canada", said Nadine Henningsen, Executive Director, "the Association is encouraged by the interest across the country to engage in a dialogue on the future of home care as essential to our health care system."

Canadians want to remain independent at home for as long as safely possible. The future success of home care in Canada requires that governments:

...Accelerate the uptake of technology within home care

...Establish harmonized principles for a national home care program in Canada

...Establish a Canadian Caregiving Strategy

...Support Canadians to develop their "aging strategy"

On behalf of its members across the country, the CHCA will continue to work to advance the necessary policies to ensure home care is recognized as vital to the social safety net valued by Canadians.

About the Canadian Home Care Association

The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to ensuring the availability of accessible, responsive home care and community supports to enable people to stay in their homes with safety, dignity and quality of life. Members of the Association include organizations and individuals from publicly funded home care programs, not-for-profit and proprietary service agencies, consumers, researchers, educators and others with an interest in home care. Through the support of the Association members who share a commitment to excellence, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement, CHCA serves as the national voice of home care and the access point for information and knowledge for home care across Canada.

Canadians from all walks of life live well with Diabetes

Family history of complications, lifestyle demands provide inspiration

TORONTO, November 17, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The key to living long and well with diabetes is practicing healthy habits, and Dan Hill, Alison Armstrong and Barb Warenchuk have proven that life can go on happily and productively despite this disease.

"With more than nine million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes, chances are you or someone you know may be affected by it. Yet across this country and around the world, people with diabetes are making positive lifestyle choices to improve their overall quality of life," said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "This November during Diabetes Awareness Month, you can see the stories of some of these people by visiting us online at diabetes.ca."

Toronto-based Grammy and Juno Award-winning musician Dan Hill is well-known to most Canadians, but they may be surprised to learn that he's had type 2 diabetes for a decade. It runs in his family: his grandfather, father and brother were all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Health conscious Hill now runs 15 to 20 kilometres every other day.

"It's no coincidence that I kicked up my running after my dad died. I saw dad lose his legs, which made me value mine all the more," said Hill.

Hill recently headlined a concert to benefit the Canadian Diabetes Association in Edmonton.

"I was excited to collaborate with the Canadian Diabetes Association on this and other initiatives to raise greater awareness. Diabetes is a global epidemic and it is my hope to bring further attention to the disease by sharing my own experiences of living with it," said Hill.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 22 years ago, Alison Armstrong faced the challenge of managing her diabetes and daily insulin injections alongside her busy schedule as a university student when studying at odd hours was the norm. Now a married mother of two and full-time communications professional in Guelph, Armstrong uses an insulin pump and has brought her entire family on board in terms of practicing good nutrition and exercising regularly.

"If you commit to a healthy lifestyle, you can live a long and healthy life. Eat right, work with your healthcare team and access resources from the Canadian Diabetes Association. You may face overwhelming situations but you have to take it a moment at a time," said Armstrong.

Edmonton's Barb Warenchuk atypically developed type 2 diabetes at the tender age of 22. Now 40 years later, retiree Warenchuk continues to successfully manage her diabetes through healthy eating and regular exercise, including eating breakfast and better foods during the day.

"When I was first diagnosed, we didn't have an awareness of what diabetes meant. I lost my sister because of complications with the disease and I think it had a lot to do with poor lifestyle choices. The more you know about something, the easier it is to deal with," said Warenchuk.

For the entire month of November, the Canadian Diabetes Association is asking individuals to visit diabetes.ca to see the stories of incredible supporters including Dan Hill, Alison Armstrong and Barb Warenchuk - who are living healthy with diabetes, advocating for the cause and breaking ground towards a cure. Join the Association in leading the fight against diabetes by supporting the cause or participating in local Diabetes Awareness Month events or fundraising activities in your community. Visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464) for more information.

The 2010 Diabetes Awareness Month campaign is sponsored by sanofi-aventis.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association

Today, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications. For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

Antibiotic Awareness Day in Canada

New national awareness day promotes prudent antibiotic use to help fight antibiotic resistance - website launched at www.AntibioticAwareness.ca

WINNIPEG, November 17, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Antibiotic resistance is an issue health practitioners around the world face daily. Numerous health-related organizations have partnered to mark tomorrow as the first Canadian Antibiotic Awareness Day in an effort to promote prudent use of antibiotics and fight the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (AMMI) Canada, the Community and Hospital Infection Control Association (CHICA) Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases (CFID), and the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) have joined to recognize Nov. 18, 2010 as Antibiotic Awareness Day in Canada.

"It is very exciting to see so many health partners join together to launch the first Antibiotic Awareness Day in Canada," says Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer. "Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in Canada and around the world. Raising awareness and encouraging prudent use of antibiotics are vital steps in helping control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections."

"Simply, antibiotic overuse drives resistance, which affects the whole community," says Dr. Lynora Saxinger, Chair of the AMMI Canada Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance Committee. "Patients want to get better and their doctors want to do the right thing, but antibiotics are commonly seen as the safest choice for 'colds and flu' when in fact they won't help these viral infections, and may cause side effects as well as bacterial resistance. We want to help put tools in the hands of doctors and patients to help in the decisions."

Antibiotic Awareness Day resources include a "prescription pad" for doctors to give directly to patients seeking antibiotics. All of the resources are available on the new Antibiotic Awareness Day website at www.AntibioticAwareness.ca.

The website will also feature webcasts of Canadian experts discussing the latest information on antibiotic resistance and public health - two in English and one in French - on November 18, 2010. Topics will include community education and prevention, antibiotic use and resistance in hospitals, and current Canadian programs and surveillance data.

In addition to its partnership role in Antibiotic Awareness Day, PHAC is issuing an evidence-based guidance document related to antibiotic resistance that will aid health care workers in the management of patients colonized or infected with carbapenem-resistant infections, including those caused by bacteria that produce the enzyme NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo beta-lactamase). As part of PHAC's Infection Prevention and Control Program Guideline Series, the document provides recommendations to complement infection prevention and control practices for use by provinces and territories, health care facilities and health care personnel across Canada.

Guelph Independent Living strike deadline extended

GUELPH, Ontario, November 16, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Both sides in the contract dispute at Guelph Independent Living have agreed to extend a strike deadline by 60 days to January 13, 2011.

The extension came only hours before OPSEU Local 203, representing more than 75 staff at the facility, would have been in a legal position to walk off the job.

Representatives for Local 203 and the employer have agreed to a ban on the release of any further information.

Guelph Independent Living staff work with people with physical disabilities and the elderly. They voted to join OPSEU in October, 2009, and have been in negotiations for a first contract since January.

Canadian Researchers Carry On Banting's Legacy in Finding Better Treatments for People with Diabetes

Research critical in light of global diabetes epidemic

TORONTO, November 10, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Scientists are carrying on the proud Canadian heritage of pioneering breakthroughs in diabetes research thanks to funding from the Canadian Diabetes Association. Following in the footsteps of Sir Frederick Banting, Dr. Bernard Zinman, Dr. Bruce Verchere and Dr. Baiju Shah are working towards improving health outcomes for people living with diabetes.

"Canadian Diabetes Association-supported researchers are working to enhance our understanding of diabetes and its prevention and management, and find better treatments and, ultimately, a cure," said Michael Cloutier, president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "With nine million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes - not to mention millions around the world - their role is critical in saving and improving lives."

Toronto researcher Dr. Bernard Zinman, based at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, University of Toronto, played a pivotal role in changing the way the clinical world saw and treated diabetes. As a principal investigator and vice chair of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), Dr. Zinman led research that revealed that keeping blood glucose levels as close as possible to normal slows the onset and progression of eye, kidney and nerve damage caused by diabetes. As a consequence, the treatment of people with type 1 diabetes has changed so that intensive diabetes management with insulin pumps or multiple daily injections is now considered the standard of care.

Dr. Zinman is currently researching how to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes and, in this context, is studying the effect of a new class of medication.

"I am currently investigating new therapies for type 2 diabetes which target the incretins system and may have beneficial effects on obesity and cardiovascular disease, both of which are very common in people with diabetes," said Dr. Zinman.

At nearby Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Dr. Baiju Shah is focusing on the impact and treatment of diabetes among different ethnic groups - specifically the South Asian and Chinese populations.

"I am exploring how South Asian and Chinese Canadians use the healthcare system and how well they manage their disease compared to the general population of Canada," said Dr. Shah, an endocrinologist and scientist at Sunnybrook.

Understanding how insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas work and why they stop working in diabetes and after transplantation is the goal of research being conducted by Dr. Bruce Verchere in Vancouver. Dr. Verchere is a professor in the UBC departments of pathology and laboratory medicine and surgery, head of the diabetes research program at the Child and Family Research Institute, and holds the Irving K. Barber chair in diabetes research.

"I was drawn to diabetes research because it has a remarkable Canadian history with the discovery of insulin and the story of Drs. Banting and Best. I know many individuals with diabetes and draw inspiration from their stories in our search for a cure," said Dr. Verchere.

For the entire month of November, the Canadian Diabetes Association is asking individuals to visit diabetes.ca to see the stories of incredible supporters - who are living healthy with diabetes, advocating for the cause and breaking ground towards a cure. Join the Association in leading the fight against diabetes by supporting the cause or participating in local Diabetes Awareness Month events or fundraising activities in your community. Visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464) for more information.


About the Canadian Diabetes Association

Today, more than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications. For more information, please visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

The CGPA seeks to promote the cause of caregiving - A long-term partnership to help those who help millions of Quebecers and Canadians

MONTREAL, November 1, 2010 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association is proud to join forces with the CSSS Cavendish and Professionals Networking for Caregivers (PNC) to support caregivers and help them meet the many challenges they face.

This announcement was made today, within the framework of an activity launching Caregivers' Week. In addition to providing support for this event, this long-term partnership will translate into support for a range of activities, including the organization of a major annual fundraising event, the first edition of which will be held in 2011 in Montreal.

"Millions of Canadians must provide constant care to loved ones. The contribution of these caregivers to our society is priceless. They are one of the pivotal elements of our health and social services system, since they improve the quality of life of persons in their care, saving the public system a great deal of money. The CGPA recognizes the value of their contribution and, through its commitment, seeks to ensure that this contribution is more widely recognized by our society at large", states Jim Keon, President of the CGPA.

About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association represents the Canadian generic pharmaceutical industry, a dynamic group of companies specializing in the production of affordably priced quality generic pharmaceuticals and fine chemical products as well as the performance of clinical tests required by the government to obtain approval of generics. This industry plays an important role in controlling the cost of health care in Canada.