By: Surjit Singh Flora
Diabetes represents one of the most rapidly increasing and financially burdensome chronic conditions in Canada, with around 201,000 new diagnoses occurring annually. Diabetes Canada reports that the prevalence of diabetes among Canadians has increased twofold since the year 2000, with approximately 30 percent of the population—around 12 million individuals—affected by diabetes or prediabetes.
To find the cure, the National Framework for Diabetes, known as Bill C-237, was sponsored by Sonia Sidhu, the Liberal MP for Brampton South, and was enacted on June 29, 2021. The bill garnered unanimous backing from all political factions, a testament to the relentless dedication of advocates such as Sidhu and various diabetes organizations.
Subsequently, Sidhu introduced a bill concerning diabetes that successfully navigated through parliament, enhancing access to diabetes care nationwide.
The health minister of Canada collaborated with provinces and territories, alongside organizations like Diabetes Canada and JDRF, Indigenous groups, and various stakeholders to establish a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing diabetes prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts. This also facilitated the identification of the necessary training, education, and guidance for healthcare professionals engaged in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Born in India Sonia Sidhu has emerged as a prominent advocate for the #LetsDefeatDiabetes initiative in Canada, serving as the Member of Parliament for Brampton South since 2015. With 18 years of experience in health care, she entered politics equipped with a profound understanding of the nation’s health care needs.
On Monday morning, advocates convened outside London’s Banting House National Historic Site, the birthplace of insulin, to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Flame of Hope. Sonia Sidhu, MP for Brampton South, received recognition for her dedicated advocacy efforts and commitment to finding a cure for diabetes.
Actually, diabetes and prediabetes currently impact 11 million Canadians, representing approximately one-third of the population, and can lead to severe, life-threatening complications if left untreated. Individuals of South Asian descent represent one of the ethnic groups with an elevated risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.
The incidence of diabetes in South Asian adults is 2.3 times greater than that observed in white adults, equating to an additional 8.1 cases of diabetes per 100 individuals, as reported in a 2018 study on health disparities conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Of the 431,765 first-generation South Asian immigrants, 68,440 individuals, or 15.9 percent, received a diabetes diagnosis. After adjusting for age, sex, and income, it was found that Sri Lankans of South Asian descent exhibited the highest prevalence of diabetes at 26.8 percent. This rate was followed by Bangladesh at 22.2 percent, Pakistan at 19.6 percent, India at 18.3 percent, and Nepal at 16.5 percent. The prevalence among non-immigrants stood at 11.6 percent.
The rising prevalence of diabetes among South Asian populations correlates with various socio-demographic indicators, including income, education, English proficiency, refugee status, and additional factors.
Numerous factors, such as ethnicity, may be associated with type 2 diabetes. In addition to South Asians, other populations at elevated risk encompass individuals from African, Caribbean, and Black communities, along with Indigenous Peoples. Currently, around 20 percent of Canada’s population is classified as high-risk. According to Diabetes Canada, the prevalence of diabetes has surged by more than 50 percent in the past decade, with projections indicating that rates will persist in their upward trajectory in the coming decade.
Indigenous Peoples face a diagnosis of diabetes at a rate approximately three times higher than that of the general population. The Member of Parliament for Brampton asserts that she has witnessed the profound impact of diabetes firsthand and is aware of its preventable nature.
Diabetes presents significant challenges on its own, but it also leads to additional serious complications in the future. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes exhibit a heightened risk of hospitalization due to heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes, and amputations.
The Peel region in Ontario, characterized by a significant South Asian demographic alongside various other ethnic communities that exhibit heightened vulnerability to diabetes, stands out as one of the most impacted areas.
Hundreds of bricks have been placed around Banting House to commemorate individuals and events related to diabetes.
The latest addition is a brick honouring Sidhu’s unwavering commitment to discovering a cure. Sidhu expressed that discovering a cure would undoubtedly allow everyone to lead a joyful and healthy life.
