PEI Diabetes Trends Report 2018

Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by defects in insulin production or insulin use. This leads to high blood sugar levels, which can damage organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Diabetes is caused by a number of genetic, environmental, and biological risk factors. Definite risk factors for type 1 diabetes are currently not known, but there are controllable and modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes. A person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes can increase with certain socio-demographic and economic characteristics, health behaviors, and health conditions.

In 2016/17, the prevalence of Islanders living with diabetes was 13,946. Diabetes is a major public health challenge because of its large effect on heath. It affects not only the health of people living with the disease, but also imposes significant direct and indirect economic costs on them and society as a whole. 

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of Diabetes in PEI from 2016/2017 data so that policymakers, researchers, health practitioners, and the general public can make informed public and personal health decisions.