Comparing Diabetes Care Across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario
- kpyde1
- Feb 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, pose significant challenges to both individuals and healthcare systems across Canada. In Alberta, 1.18 million people live with diabetes or prediabetes (Alberta Diabetes Foundation, n.d.), and 587,710 have been diagnosed (Diabetes Canada, 2024). These numbers are projected to increase to 815,610 by 2034, leading to an estimated $556 million in direct healthcare costs annually (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
While diabetes care follows similar frameworks across Canadian provinces, differences in prevalence, healthcare funding, and available support programs create unique challenges and opportunities in each region. By comparing Alberta, British Columbia (BC), and Ontario, we can identify strengths and areas for improvement in diabetes prevention and management strategies.
Diabetes Prevalence in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario
Diabetes prevalence is relatively consistent across these provinces, but BC has a higher rate of undiagnosed cases, and Ontario has the highest overall burden:
Province | Diagnosed Diabetes (Type 1 & Type 2) | Total Prevalence (Diagnosed + Undiagnosed) |
Alberta | 8% (Diabetes Canada, 2024) | 13% (Diabetes Canada, 2024) |
British Columbia | 10% (Diabetes Canada, 2022) | 15% (Diabetes Canada, 2022) |
Ontario | 12.5% (Diabetes Canada, 2024) | 31% (including prediabetes cases) (Diabetes Canada, 2024) |
Ontario faces the highest rate of diabetes and prediabetes, while BC has more undiagnosed cases, indicating potential gaps in screening and early detection efforts.
Shared Risk Factors
Across all three provinces, key risk factors remain consistent:
Indigenous Populations – First Nations, Métis, and Inuit adults experience significantly higher diabetes prevalence. In Alberta, First Nations adults living off-reserve are 1.72 times more likely to have diabetes (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Ethnic Minorities – South Asians (16%), Black adults (13.3%), and Arab/West Asians (12.5%) have higher diabetes rates than the general population (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Socioeconomic Status – Lower-income and lower-education populations have 2.1 times the diabetes prevalence compared to higher-income individuals (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Obesity & Sedentary Lifestyles – High rates of physical inactivity (42% in Alberta), obesity (35%), and poor diet (80% not consuming enough fruits and vegetables) increase diabetes risks (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Key Differences
Rural vs. Urban Healthcare Access – In Alberta and BC, rural communities have higher diabetes rates due to limited healthcare access (Diabetes Canada, 2022). Ontario’s large urban population allows for greater access to specialists, but rural areas still face challenges.
Rate of Complications – Alberta and Ontario have the highest diabetes-related complications, including:
40% of heart attacks
30% of strokes
50% of kidney failure cases requiring dialysis
70% of all non-traumatic leg and foot amputations (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Primary Care Networks & Diabetes Clinics
Each province relies on interdisciplinary healthcare models to prevent and manage diabetes:
Province | Primary Care Networks (PCNs) | Specialized Diabetes Clinics |
Alberta | PCNs integrate GPs, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists (Government of Alberta, 2023) | Diabetes-focused clinics like South Calgary PCN Complex Care Clinic (AHS, n.d.-b) |
British Columbia | Similar PCN model with interdisciplinary teams (Government of British Columbia, 2023) | Diabetes clinics support complex cases across BC (National Aboriginal Diabetes Association, 2024) |
Ontario | Diabetes Education Programs (DEPs) integrated into PCNs (Province of Ontario, 2025) | Centres for Complex Diabetes Care offer team-based management (Trillium Health Partners, 2025) |
Key Differences:
Alberta relies more on PCNs, though some patients still face gaps in specialist referrals (Government of Alberta, 2023).
Ontario provides more community-based diabetes education programs through free self-management workshops and Diabetes Passports (Province of Ontario, 2025).
BC has a slightly stronger interdisciplinary approach, ensuring more access to pharmacists and diabetes educators (Government of British Columbia, 2023).
Diabetes Funding & Out-of-Pocket Costs
One of the biggest differences across provinces is funding for diabetes management.
Province | Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Diabetes Care | Government Coverage for Diabetes Supplies |
Alberta | 0% to 9% of income (Diabetes Canada, 2024) | Limited CGM & insulin pump coverage (Diabetes Canada, 2024) |
British Columbia | 3% to 4% of income (Diabetes Canada, 2022) | BC PharmaCare covers CGMs, insulin, foot care (Diabetes Canada, 2022) |
Ontario | Up to 17% of income (Diabetes Canada, 2024) | OHIP funds FreeStyle Libre 2, insulin, foot care (Province of Ontario, 2024) |
Key Differences:
BC has the most comprehensive coverage for diabetes supplies through PharmaCare, which funds CGMs, insulin, and foot care without significant out-of-pocket costs.
Ontario has broad CGM coverage through OHIP, but higher personal financial burden (up to 17% of household income for diabetes care).
Alberta’s coverage is more limited, particularly for CGMs, leading to higher patient expenses unless they have private insurance (Diabetes Canada, 2024).
Diabetes & Surgical Outcomes
Diabetes significantly increases surgical risks due to complications like poor wound healing, infections, and vascular issues. In Alberta, diabetes contributes to a high rate of non-traumatic lower limb amputations, reflecting the need for stronger preventative care and specialized post-surgical support (Diabetes Canada, 2024). While preoperative diabetes assessments help manage risks, they can also lead to longer surgical wait times as patients require additional monitoring for blood sugar control and infection prevention (Drayton et al., 2022).
Compared to British Columbia, which has lower amputation rates due to stronger preventative foot care programs, Alberta could benefit from expanding public coverage for foot care and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices to improve diabetes management and reduce surgical complications (Diabetes Canada, 2022). Additionally, Alberta could adopt virtual post-surgical care models like Ontario’s Surgical Transitions Program, which supports diabetic patients at home, reducing hospital stays and improving recovery outcomes (Hamilton Health Sciences, 2023). By enhancing preoperative screening, improving access to foot care, and investing in post-surgical virtual care, Alberta can help reduce diabetes-related amputations and improve surgical outcomes.
Conclusion & Recommendations
While Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario share similar diabetes care frameworks, key differences in funding, access to technology, and specialized care models create variations in patient outcomes. Alberta faces higher out-of-pocket costs for diabetes care than BC and offers less public funding for continuous glucose monitoring (CGMs) and insulin pumps. Meanwhile, Ontario provides broad CGM coverage through OHIP, but patients still bear a higher personal financial burden, with some spending up to 17% of their household income on diabetes management (Diabetes Canada, 2024). British Columbia leads the way in comprehensive funding for diabetes supplies and preventative care, which has contributed to lower diabetes-related amputation rates compared to Alberta and Ontario (Diabetes Canada, 2022).
To improve diabetes outcomes, Alberta should consider expanding public funding for CGMs, insulin pumps, and foot care services, aligning with BC’s PharmaCare model to reduce patient expenses and enhance self-management. Additionally, investing in rural telemedicine programs could help close healthcare gaps, ensuring that patients outside urban centers receive continuous, specialist-led diabetes care. Alberta could also adopt community-based education initiatives, similar to Ontario’s Diabetes Passport and free self-management workshops, to empower individuals with the tools they need to manage their condition effectively. By incorporating these strategies, Alberta can enhance diabetes prevention, reduce complications, and improve overall health outcomes for its population.
References
Alberta Diabetes Foundation. (n.d.). Alberta Diabetes Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.albertadiabetesfoundation.com/
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Trillium Health Partners. (2025). Centre for complex diabetes care. Retrieved from https://www.thp.ca/patientservices/diabetesservicesforadults/
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