Health Home >>  >>   

Diabetes will hit 2 million in Canada

Written by: SHARON LEM, QMI Agency
Jun. 16, 2010

TORONTO - The number of newly diagnosed people with diabetes in Canada will grow to nearly two million by 2017, according to a new report.

Between 2007 and 2017, it's predicted that 1.9 million Canadians, or nine out of 100, will develop diabetes within the 10-year period, according to a 49-page report released Wednesday by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).

Two million Canadians currently are living with diabetes.

The study predicts the new cases of diabetes will occur in younger age groups compared with previous years, where people developed diabetes at an older age. This, coupled with improved treatments for diabetes, means there will be more Canadians living with diabetes than ever before. The study found obese individuals have the highest individual diabetes risk, but Canadians who are overweight bear the greatest population risk.

"People often think of diabetes as a disease for the very obese. What we know is that people who are obese are at higher risk, but we have more cases of diabetes in people who are overweight," Dr. Doug Manuel, principal investigator of the study and adjunct scientist for ICES, said.

The study found a total of 712,000 cases are predicted to develop in people who are overweight, defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25-30, compared to 247,000 cases for people who are very obese with BMI's of greater than 35.

Manuel said weight control is an important component to preventing diabetes.

The study found in 2007, the 10-year risk of diabetes was lowest in Quebec, British Columbia and urban regions, followed by Alberta and Ontario.

"Quebec and B.C. are doing a good job at preventing diabetes," Manuel said.

"The government and business leaders in Quebec and B.C. put a lot of emphasis on eating well and exercising and developing healthy communities.

If you look at Ontario, the population is so large, yet they're on average for the risk of developing diabetes."

He said it's important to build healthier communities through government programs, eating healthy and exercising.

For example, Manuel found if Canadians lowered their weight by 3.3%, they would be able to prevent 10% of new diabetes cases.

"What the report says is that we can't leave it up to the doctor's offices,"

Manuel said. "We need to build communities in the physical sense by becoming less dependent on processed food and to stop using cars, and in the social sense we have to build up community centres to support healthy lifestyle."

DIABETES BY THE NUMBERS

* Between 2007 and 2017, 1.9 million Canadians are predicted to develop diabetes. This means that about nine out of every 100 Canadians are predicted to be newly diagnosed with diabetes during the 10-year period.

* In 2007, the 10-year risk of diabetes was lowest in Quebec, British Columbia and urban regions. Individuals who are obese have the highest individual diabetes risk, but Canadians who are overweight bear the greatest population risk.

* In total, 712,000 cases are predicted to develop in people who are overweight, defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25-30, compared to 247,000 cases for people who are very obese (BMI>35).

* Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.

BMI Categories:

* Underweight = <18.5

* Normal weight = 18.5-24.9

* Overweight = 25-29.9

* Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

* Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas isn't able to produce enough insulin, or the body does not properly use the insulin produced.

View more news