Snapshot of Diabetes in Canada, 2023

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Date published: 2023
Cat.: HP35-180/2023E-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-660-68701-8
Pub.: 230557

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when it cannot use it effectively, resulting in high blood glucose levels. There are different types of diabetes.^{Footnote 1}

Type 1 (5-10% of cases^{Footnote 2}) : Non-preventable auto-immune condition that requires insulin therapy for life.
Type 2 (90-95% of cases^{Footnote 2}): Potentially preventable (or at least delayable), type 2 diabetes is treated with health behaviour modifications and/or medications (oral or injectable such as insulin).
Gestational diabetes (10% of women who give birth^{Footnote 3}): Temporary condition that develops during pregnancy and that resolves after delivery. It is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Other uncommon types: Diabetes resulting from genetic mutations (such as neonatal diabetes mellitus or maturity-onset diabetes of the young), other diseases (such as cystic fibrosis) or medications use (such as steroids).

Diabetes complications

Early detection and optimal management are crucial to reduce the risk of complications, including heart disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, foot ulcers and lower limb amputations, as well as eye, kidney, and nerve damage.^{Footnote 1}

People living with diabetes are also at increased risk for more severe outcomes from infectious respiratory diseases such as the flu and coronavirus disease (COVID-19).^{Footnote 4}^{Footnote 5}

Preventing diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is not preventable. Risk factors are not well understood, and may include genetic, young age, and environmental factors.^{Footnote 6}

Some risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes cannot be modified such as genetics and older age. However, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle (i.e., regular physical activity, healthy eating, weight management, and being smoke-free) can help prevent or delay their onset or complications.^{Footnote 7}

Populations facing systemic social and economic disadvantages are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Addressing the social, economic, and physical conditions that influence health equity can help to reduce these inequities in diabetes and improve health for all.^{Footnote 8}^{Footnote 9}

Diagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 10}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote †}

In 2020–2021, among people aged 1 year and older:

9.4% (or 3.7 million) were living with diagnosed diabetes (10.1% males, 8.7% females).

The prevalence of diabetes increased with age:
1-19	20-39	40-64	65+
0.3%	1.7%	10.9%	27.0%

Undiagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote ‡}

Between 2007 and 2019, among adults aged 20-79 years:

1.9% had undiagnosed diabetes (2.3% males, 1.5% females).
22.5% who met the diagnosis criteria for diabetes were unaware of their condition.

Prediabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote §}

Between 2007 and 2019, among adults aged 20-79 years:

6.3% had prediabetes (6.6% males, 6.1% females).

Prediabetes can progress into type 2 diabetes over time.

Learn more:

Are you at risk?

CANRISK Questionnaire

Explore more data:

Other resources:

Notes:

Footnote *

Types of diabetes are combined and gestational diabetes is excluded from diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes estimates.

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Footnote †

Diagnosed diabetes: Individual with 1 or more hospital separation records or 2 or more physician billing claims within 2 years with a diabetes diagnostic code.

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Footnote ‡

Undiagnosed diabetes: Individual who did not self-report being diagnosed with diabetes, did not take blood glucose lowering medications and had hemoglobin A1c level of ≥6.5%.

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Footnote §

Prediabetes: Individual who did not self-report being diagnosed with diabetes, did not take blood glucose lowering medications and had hemoglobin A1c level of ≥6.0% and <6.5%.

Return to footnote § referrer

Sources:

Footnote 1

Diabetes Canada. 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. Can J Diabetes. 2018; 42(Suppl 1):S1-S325. Available from: http://guidelines.diabetes.ca/cpg

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Footnote 2

Public Health Agency of Canada. Diabetes in Canada: Facts and figures from a public health perspective [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2011 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/diabetes-canada-facts-figures-a-public-health-perspective.html

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Footnote 3

Public Health Agency of Canada. Perinatal Health Indicators Data Tool, 2020 Edition [Internet] Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2020 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: https://health-infobase.canada.ca/phi/data-tool/index?Dom=1

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

Public Health Agency of Canada. People who are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19 [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/people-high-risk-for-severe-illness-covid-19.html

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Footnote 5

Public Health Agency of Canada. Advisory Committee Statement: Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022–2023 [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 19]. Available from: http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/canadian-immunization-guide-statement-seasonal-influenza-vaccine-2022-2023.html#l1fna

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Footnote 6

JDRF. Causes of Type 1 Diabetes [Internet]. [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: https://www.jdrf.org/t1d-resources/about/causes

Return to footnote 6 referrer

Footnote 7

Public Health Agency of Canada. The Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2017 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/en/canrisk

Return to footnote 7 referrer

Footnote 8

Public Health Agency of Canada. Framework for Diabetes in Canada [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/framework-diabetes-canada.html

Return to footnote 8 referrer

Footnote 9

Public Health Agency of Canada. Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2019 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/inequalities-diabetes-infographic.html

Return to footnote 9 referrer

Footnote 10

Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS), Data Tool 2000–2020, 2022 Edition [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Public Health Agency of Canada; 2023 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: https://health-infobase.canada.ca/ccdss/data-tool

Return to footnote 10 referrer

Footnote 11

Statistics Canada. Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) [Internet]. Cycle 1 to 6 combined (2007-2019). Ottawa (ON): Statistics Canada; 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/survey/household/5071

Return to footnote 11 referrer

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Date modified:: 2024-01-30

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Snapshot of Diabetes in Canada, 2023

Diabetes complications

Preventing diabetes

Diagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 10}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote †}

Undiagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote ‡}

Prediabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote §}

Learn more:

Are you at risk?

Explore more data:

Other resources:

Notes:

Sources:

Page details

Snapshot of Diabetes in Canada, 2023

Diabetes complications

Preventing diabetes

Diagnosed diabetesFootnote 10Footnote *Footnote †

Undiagnosed diabetesFootnote 11Footnote *Footnote ‡

PrediabetesFootnote 11Footnote *Footnote §

Learn more:

Are you at risk?

Explore more data:

Other resources:

Notes:

Sources:

Page details

Diagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 10}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote †}

Undiagnosed diabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote ‡}

Prediabetes^{Footnote 11}^{Footnote *}^{Footnote §}