Health Fact Sheets
Diabetes, 2015
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In 2015, 6.9% of Canadians aged 12 and older (roughly 2.1 million people) reported being diagnosed with diabetes.Note 1 Overall, males (7.8%) were more likely than females (5.9%) to report that they had diabetes.Note 2 Diabetes increased with ageNote 3 for both males and females up to age 64. The prevalence did not increase significantly for those aged 75 or older (Chart 1).
Data table for Chart 1
| Age group (years) | Percent | Confidence Interval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower 95% | Upper 95% | ||
| Males | |||
| Total (12 or older) | 7.8 | 7.3 | 8.3 |
| 12 to 34 | 0.9Note E: Use with caution | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 35 to 49 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 6.0 |
| 50 to 64 | 11.2 | 10.0 | 12.5 |
| 65 to 74 | 20.6 | 18.5 | 22.8 |
| 75 or older | 21.5 | 18.7 | 24.3 |
| Females | |||
| Total (12 or older) | 5.9 | 5.5 | 6.4 |
| 12 to 34 | 0.8Note E: Use with caution | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 35 to 49 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 4.8 |
| 50 to 64 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 9.0 |
| 65 to 74 | 14.7 | 13.0 | 16.4 |
| 75 or older | 15.3 | 13.4 | 17.1 |
|
E use with caution Note: Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having diabetes. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2015. |
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The proportion of residents aged 12 and older who reported being diagnosed with diabetes was lower than the national average (6.9%) in Alberta (4.7%).Note 4
The proportion of residents who reported being diagnosed with diabetes was higher than the national average in:
- Newfoundland and Labrador (10.5%)
- Nova Scotia (10.1%)
- New Brunswick (8.8%)
The proportion of residents who reported being diagnosed with diabetes was about the same as the national average in the other provinces.
Canadians aged 18 and older who were either overweight or obese were more likely than those who were classified as having a normal weightNote 5 to report that they had been diagnosed with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes among obese Canadians was 13.6% in 2015, compared with 6.6% among overweight Canadians and 3.2% among those classified as having a normal weight.
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About Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced is not used effectively. Diabetes may lead to a reduced quality of life as well as complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.Note 6
Survey respondents were asked to report if they had been diagnosed with diabetes by a health professional. Included in the reports were:
- type 1, which is usually diagnosed in children and adolescents;
- type 2, which usually develops in adulthood; and
- gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy.
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References
James, R., T. K. Young, C.A. Mustard, and J. Blanchard. 1998. “The health of Canadians with diabetes.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 9, no. 3. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)
Millar, W., J. Young, and T. Kue 2003. “Tracking diabetes: Prevalence, incidence and risk factors.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 14, no. 3. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)
Ng, E., K.M. McGrail, and J.A. Johnson. 2010. “Hospitalization risk in a type 2 diabetes cohort.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 21, no. 3. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)
Ross, N.A., H. Gilmour, K. Dasgupta. 2010. “14-year diabetes incidence: The role of socio-economic status.” Health Reports. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol.21, no. 3. (Accessed January 11th, 2017)
Data
Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM table 105–0508.
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