Health Fact Sheets
Diabetes, 2016

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Release date: September 27, 2017

In 2016, 7.0% of Canadians aged 12 and older (roughly 2.1 million people) reported being diagnosed with diabetes.Note 1 Between 2015 and 2016, the proportion of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with diabetes remained stable.Note 2

Overall, males (7.6%) were more likely than females (6.4%) to report that they had diabetes. Diabetes increased with ageNote 3 for both males and females up to age 64. The prevalence did not increase significantly for those aged 75 and older (Chart 1).

Chart 1 Diabetes, by age group and sex, household population aged 12 and older, Canada, 2016

Data table for Chart 1
Data table for Chart 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 1. The information is grouped by Age group (years) (appearing as row headers), Percent and Confidence Interval, calculated using Lower 95% limit and Upper 95% limit units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Age group (years) Percent Confidence Interval
Lower 95% limit Upper 95% limit
Males
Total (12 and older) 7.6 7.1 8.0
12 to 34 0.7Note E: Use with caution 0.4 1.0
35 to 49 4.8 3.9 5.8
50 to 64 11.7 10.4 12.9
65 to 74 19.5 17.6 21.5
75 and older 18.6 16.5 20.7
Females
Total (12 and older) 6.4 6.0 6.9
12 to 34 1.0Note E: Use with caution 0.7 1.3
35 to 49 3.1 2.4 3.7
50 to 64 9.0 7.6 10.4
65 to 74 15.6 13.8 17.5
75 and older 17.4 15.6 19.3

Canadians aged 18 and older who were either overweight or obese were more likely than those who were classified as having a normal weightNote 4 to report that they had been diagnosed with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes among obese Canadians was 13.2% in 2016, compared with 6.6% among overweight Canadians and 3.6% among those classified as having a normal weight.

The prevalence of diabetes varied notably with household income. The percentage of Canadians aged 12 and older who had been diagnosed with diabetes was lowest amongst households that fell within the highest income quintile (4.9%).Note 5 Households among the lowest and second lowest income quintiles were most likely to report being diagnosed with diabetes (Chart 2).

Chart 2 Diabetes, by household income quintle, household population aged 12 and older, Canada, 2016

Data table for Chart 2
Data table for Chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 2 Percent and Confidence Interval, calculated using Lower 95% limit and Upper 95% limit units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Percent Confidence Interval
Lower 95% limit Upper 95% limit
First quintile 9.2 8.3 10.1
Second quintile 8.5 7.7 9.3
Third quintile 6.6 5.8 7.4
Fourth quintile 5.8 5.2 6.4
Fifth quintile 4.9 4.3 5.5

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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 11, 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 11, 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 11, 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 11, 2017)

Data

Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM table 105–0508.

Notes

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