Health Fact Sheets
Diabetes, 2016
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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).
Data table for Chart 1
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 |
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, 2016. |
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).
Data table for Chart 2
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 |
Note: 95% confidence intervals are denoted by vertical lines overlaid on the bars in this chart. They indicate the degree of variability in the estimates. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2016. |
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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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