Doctor Vincent Woo an Endocrinology Consultant for the Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg explains diabetes is prevalent in Canada as 5 per cent of population is diagnosed with it and another 5 per cent have diabetes but are unaware of it.

Woo explains we have similar numbers in Manitoba as the rest of the country.  He says some provinces are a little bit higher such as Newfoundland and some are a little bit lower such as Alberta and Quebec but Manitoba is right in the middle about the same as Ontario.  He points out in the northern Manitoba region we know that in addition to age weight increases your risk of diabetes but also ethnicity as well so our First Nations individuals have higher rates than non First Nations people for diabetes.

Diabetes Canada and Dynacare are encouraging people to get tested for diabetes through their hashtag Dynacare for Diabetes campaign.