90-90-90 Target for driving down HIV/AIDS infections worldwide inspires new approach to diabetes

Diabetes Canada adapting made-in-BC Treatment as Prevention (TasP®) strategy to diabetes, making 6 million Canadians aware of their status

VANCOUVER, Oct. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Diabetes Canada is adopting the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Treatment as Prevention^® (TasP^®) approach to tackle the epidemic of diabetes and prediabetes currently affecting over 11 million Canadians. This is the first time the made-in-BC TasP^® strategy, and the related global 90-90-90 Target for the control of HIV/AIDS, will be applied to a non-infectious disease.

The 90-90-90 Target developed by Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, proposes to have at least 90 per cent of all people living with HIV diagnosed, at least 90 per cent of them on antiretroviral therapy and at least 90 per cent of them virologically suppressed by 2020. Achieving the 90-90-90 Target by 2020 would lead to a 90 per cent reduction in HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality and a 90 per cent decrease in new HIV infections by 2030.

"Setting measurable targets and achieving them through our TasP^® strategy allowed us to almost eliminate AIDS related morbidity and mortality and drive down the rates of new cases of HIV in BC. This is now the roadmap for HIV/AIDS control globally," says Dr. Montaner. "This approach can be applied to other high burden diseases. Particularly attractive targets for this approach are contagious diseases, whether infectious - as in viral hepatitis - or socially contagious, as in type 2 diabetes. Expanding TasP^® beyond HIV/AIDS will ease the burden on our healthcare system and substantially contribute to enhanced healthcare sustainability."  

Adopting the 90-90-90 Target to diabetes will encourage early diagnosis, treatment, and engagement into care to prevent diabetes-related complications that cost the Canadian healthcare system billions of dollars a year. Studies show that as much as 60 per cent of people with prediabetes who make modest lifestyle changes can delay or prevent developing diabetes.

Diabetes Canada plans to implement the 90-90-90 Target to diabetes by encouraging 90 per cent of the 6 million Canadians with prediabetes, and the 1.5 million Canadians who are currently unaware that they are living with diabetes, to learn their status through expanded screening. 90 per cent of those diagnosed with prediabetes and diabetes (along with the 3.5 million Canadians who have already been diagnosed with diabetes) would receive treatment, lifestyle counseling or care to prevent or manage the disease. 90 per cent of those receiving treatment would be seeing improved health indicators, such as lower three-month average blood glucose, with consequent improvements in blood pressure and lipids.

"Diabetes will cost Canada's health-care system $3.5 billion this year and increase nearly 40 per cent to almost $5 billion within ten years," says Russell Williams, vice president of Government Relations and Public Policy at Diabetes Canada. "Canada needs a new strategy to slow the pace at which the diabetes epidemic is growing, and we believe this approach can be a cornerstone of that strategy."

At a multi-stakeholder workshop convened by Diabetes Canada in September, the benefits of adopting a 90-90-90 Target for diabetes in Canada were discussed.

"We were very pleased that the 48 representatives of 30 different stakeholder organizations – people living with diabetes, health-care providers, policy makers and more – all agreed that it's worth investing further in a 90-90-90 Target for Canada," says Mr. Williams. "Not only will it impact the health of Canadians and decrease the diabetes-related burden on our health-care system, but it will also contribute to Canada resuming its place as a global leader in the treatment of diabetes."

Diabetes Canada will present a report on the progress against the 90-90-90 Target in Canada by 2021 to coincide with the 100^th anniversary of the discovery of insulin by Canadians. The disease is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. In Canada, diabetes prevalence has more than doubled since 2000 and estimated to increase by 40 per cent by 2025.

About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada's largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility – nationally and internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. The made-in-BC Treatment as Prevention strategy (TasP^®) pioneered by BC-CfE, and supported by UNAIDS since 2011, inspired the ambitious global target for HIV treatment - known as the 90-90-90 Target - to end AIDS as a pandemic by 2030. The BC-CfE is applying TasP^® to therapeutic areas beyond HIV/AIDS, including viral hepatitis and addiction, to promote Targeted Disease Elimination as a means to contribute to healthcare sustainability. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV/AIDS, HCV and addictions across Canada and around the world.

About Diabetes Canada

Diabetes Canada is the registered national charitable organization that is making the invisible epidemic of diabetes visible and urgent. Diabetes Canada partners with Canadians to End Diabetes through:

• Educational programs and support services;
• Resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes;
• Advocacy to governments, schools and workplaces; and
• Funding world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure.

For more information, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

SOURCE British Columbia Centre for Excellence In HIV/AIDS

To schedule interviews please contact: Rena Heer, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Edelman Vancouver, C: 604-280-2800, [email protected]; Sherry Calder, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, Diabetes Canada, T: 902-453-3529, C: 902-210-1799, [email protected]