Diabetes Emergency Visits

Overall

There were over 1,500 emergency visits among residents of Simcoe Muskoka for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in 2021. The age-standardized rate for DM visits in Simcoe Muskoka for all ages and sexes in 2021 was 223.4 (212.0, 235.3) visits per 100,000 population, which was not significantly different from the Ontario rate of 213.3 (211.0, 215.8) visits per 100,000 population.

The DM emergency visit rates dropped in 2020 by 10% in Simcoe Muskoka and by approximately 15% for Ontario overall. In 2021, DM emergency visits dropped by another 10% in Simcoe Muskoka, while increasing by 5% for Ontario overall. It is unclear why the local pattern is different from provincial average and if this sustained decrease in the local rates was due to changes in health care use and access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trend in DM emergency visits for both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario increased significantly from 2003 to 2007 before flattening from 2007 to 2019. The DM visit rates in Simcoe Muskoka were consistently above the provincial rates through-out this time.

By Sex

In 2021, the age-standardized DM emergency visit rate among Simcoe Muskoka males was 266.1 (248.5, 284.7) visits per 100,000, which was significantly higher than the female rate of 182.3 (167.8, 187.8) visits per 100,000. The DM emergency visit rates for both Ontario males and females were not significantly different from the Simcoe Muskoka rates in 2021.

The 2020 DM emergency visit rates dropped by about 5% among Simcoe Muskoka males compared with a 15% drop among Simcoe Muskoka females. In 2021, both the male and female rates dropped again, by approximately 10% each. The DM emergency visit rates did not change significantly for neither males nor females between 2009 and 2019.

By Age Group

Emergency visits for DM increases with age. The age-specific rate for DM emergency visits between 2017 and 2021 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest among those 75 years and older at 566.2 (536.8, 596.9) visits per 100,000 population. The Simcoe Muskoka age-specific DM emergency visit rates were significantly higher than the provincial rates for all age groups under 65 years of age over this five-year period.

By Deprivation

For the period from 2017 to 2021 (combined), Simcoe Muskoka residents living in areas with the highest amount of material deprivation (as measured by the 2016 Ontario Marginalization Index) had more than double the rate of DM emergency visits when compared with those living in areas with the least amount of material deprivation.

Page last updated February 7, 2023