This is the first report comprehensively describing NDSS. It covers:

• the original concept of using health care administrative databases to track disease burden in a population;
• studies that have demonstrated the feasibility and validity of the concept;
• activities directed towards assessing and improving provincial/territorial capacity to participate in NDSS;
• strengths and limitations of the NDSS approach;
• structure and governance;
• a special focus on Aboriginal populations;
• methods of data capture;
• prevalence and mortality data; and
• future plans, including validation of a diagnostic algorithm for diabetes in people under 20 years of age.

Diabetes in Canada - Second Edition incorporates data from the National Diabetes Surveillance System (NDSS) as well as data from other sources. The first edition was published in 1999 by Health Canada. This second edition has been a collaborative effort between Health Canada and the many partner organizations acknowledged in this report.

Health Canada, has compiled current national statistics on diabetes and its complications in order to provide health professionals, policy makers and the public with a clearer picture of the burden of illness of diabetes and expected future trends.

Important Notices