Mississauga Diabetes Strategy

Type 2 diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects the way the body regulates and uses sugar as a fuel. This long-term (chronic) condition results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream.

However, the development of type 2 diabetes and its side effects, including severe complications, can be prevented if detected and effectively managed at an early stage. When left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including heart disease, kidney and nerve damage, and stroke.

Cases of type 2 diabetes in Peel Region have increased by 182 per cent between 1996 and 2015.

One in six adults living in Peel Region, ages of 45 and 64, has this preventable disease – one in three after age 65.

Type 2 diabetes is putting an added strain on our public health agencies and healthcare systems. The projected healthcare cost of diabetes in Peel Region is estimated to be $689 million in 2024.

Approximately, 53.6 per cent of Peel Region residents are overweight or obese, which is the single, biggest risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, 51.3 per cent of adults in Peel Region identify as Asian, South Asian, Arab, Black, Hispanic or Indigenous peoples, and these groups are at an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

In addition to the development of a diabetes strategy, the City is working to address type 2 diabetes and promote healthy living through a wide range of measures, including:

• Introducing a Healthy Food and Beverage Policy for Recreation Facilities to promote healthier eating by increasing the range of healthier food and beverage choices available through Concession Services and vending machines
• Implementing the Cycling Master Plan, planning and programming improvements to the City’s cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, developing and implementing education and awareness programs and events related to active transportation and building new multi-use trails and protected cycling infrastructure to encourage a more active lifestyle
• Offering and promoting healthy living activities such as fitness and wellness programs and the management and operation of more than 500 parks and supporting trail networks
• Implementing the Economic Development Strategy that promotes a more human centred approach to development, decreasing residents’ reliance on cars and creating an environment that is more welcoming for walking to boost activity levels
• Initiating a 2-year pilot program, Healthy by Design Questionnaire, that evaluates development applications from a health perspective
• Adopting Resolution 0207-2020 to address systemic discrimination and inequities within Mississauga, including accessibility to resources, services and supports for Black and Indigenous residents
• Managing a community gardens program which provides residents access to shared spaces to grow food and encourage active and healthy living
• Developing an Urban Agriculture Strategy to identify the City’s role in supporting corporate and community efforts to increase urban-scale food production across Mississauga
• Hosting webinars with community partners and stakeholders to raise awareness about diabetes prevention

In February 2021, the City welcomed a new research hub in Mississauga, funded by Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company and University of Toronto.

Located at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus, it brings leading public health experts together to help reduce global diseases and illness like diabetes.

Novo Nordisk and UTM have invested $40 million to establish the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations to address the rise in chronic diseases and diabetes.

Peel Public Health (PPH) is made up of health experts, practitioners, researchers and changemakers, with a goal to prevent people from getting sick in the first place. More information on PPH’s role in chronic disease prevention can be found here: Healthy Complete Communities, School Healthy Pledge Program, Workplace Health, Health Status Reports  the Diabetes Atlas, The Healthy Development Monitoring Map, and literature reviews.

University of Toronto Mississauga Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations is leading research to identify and implement strategies to reduce the inequities in risk and burden of diabetes and other chronic diseases through better care, lower risk factors and healthier environments.

Institute for Better Health – Trillium Health Partners – The Family and Child Health Initiative is leading research with the Black and South Asian communities to understand those with lived experience of diabetes and those that are caregivers.

Cities Changing Diabetes Programme is an international network of municipalities building and sharing strategies to prevent and manage diabetes.