Examining the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in the Canadian Newcomer Population DM2 in Newcomers

Abstract

Newcomers from certain ethnic backgrounds are underdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes (DM2) by Canadian primary care providers. Newcomers to Canada also tend to have poorer health outcomes when compared to Canadian-born individuals, and account for a disproportionate percentage of the DM2 population in Canada. Newcomers’ health is affected by acculturation to the Western diet/lifestyle and genetic predispositions. Several barriers to care, including poor English, lack of social supports, lower income, and lack of culturally sensitive care, contribute to lower healthcare utilization rates in this population. As the Canadian newcomer population continues to grow, healthcare providers must take an increasingly proactive, collaborative, and culturally sensitive approach to reduce the incidence of diabetes in this population. Since certain high-risk ethnic groups are more likely to progress from prediabetes to DM2 when compared to non-migrant Canadians, early screening and intervention among newcomers is critical. The purpose of this article is to identify the unique challenges and risk factors affecting Canadian newcomers, and prompt healthcare providers to provide early screening and culturally relevant information for this growing population.