Manitoba diabetes rate ‘alarming’, study finds

New research shows diabetes rates are rising in Manitoba, with people being diagnosed at a younger age. CTV’s Jeff Keele explains.

A shocking number of Manitobans are living with Diabetes.

Nikki Webb is one of them. She was diagnosed at age 25.

“You’re otherwise young, healthy adult and all of a sudden now there’s a flick of a switch and you’re whole life changes,” said Webb.

Those changes included monitoring her insulin levels and what she ate.

“It’s kind of a non-stop thinking about it, and now that I also have a child I have to think about, you know, how do I be safe to ensure that I’m able to care for her,” said Webb.

New research from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy shows between 2013 and 2023, there was a 46 per cent increase in the number of Manitobans living with diabetes.

It also found when comparing the years 2015 to 2018 with 2020 to 2023, cases rose by 21 per cent. This represents more than 6,000 Manitobans who were newly diagnosed.

The study says people are being diagnosed at a younger age and living longer with the disease.

Study lead and epidemiologist, Lindsey Dahl, says the numbers are a concern.

“It is certainly alarming, the number of people that we saw, we were able to identify over 150,000 individuals,” said Dahl.

The belief is poor diet, obesity, and a lack of exercise are risk factors, as well as socioeconomic reasons like access to food and physical activity.

“The social determinants of health are big factors I think, that’s why we’re seeing increases in this condition,” said Dahl.

There were positive takeaways research.

They found over the last 20 years the rates of heart attacks, strokes and nearly every major chronic disease declined. This is likely linked to improved treatment, earlier diagnosis, and better prevention.

“Like smoking, smoking cessation could be a factor where we see some decreases,” said Dahl.