Type 2 diabetes used to be thought of as an adult disease. That is no longer the case.

Canada now has one of the highest rates of youth-onset type 2 diabetes in the world, and roughly half of new cases each year are in Indigenous children.

The gap is widest for First Nations people living on reserves:

  • The age-standardized prevalence of diabetes among First Nations people living on reserve is 17.2%, more than three times the rate in the non-Indigenous population (5.0%).
  • A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal estimated that about 8 in 10 First Nations young adults will develop diabetes in their lifetime, compared with about 5 in 10 non-First Nations young adults.
  • In Manitoba, which has some of the highest rates of youth type 2 diabetes in the world, roughly 84% of youth living with type 2 diabetes are Indigenous.

When type 2 diabetes starts early, it tends to be more aggressive. In Manitoba's iCARE study of young people living with type 2 diabetes, nearly one in three already showed early signs of kidney damage. The median participant was 15 and had lived with diabetes for just over two years.

These numbers are alarming, but they aren't about individual choices. Researchers point to the ongoing effects of colonialism and trauma, poverty, geography and limited access to affordable, healthy food in many remote communities, alongside genetic factors. That is why prevention has to be community-led, culturally grounded and start early.

Where play comes in

Right To Play's Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program began in 2010 with two First Nations in northern Ontario. Today, through partnerships with First Nations communities, PLAY trains locally hired Community Mentors to deliver weekly play-based programs that promote healthy living, healthy relationships, education and life skills. The programs draw on each community's own traditions, knowledge and land-based teachings.

Sunlife has supported the PLAY program since 2015 and has invested more than $3 million in the program. Sunlife's funding helps support community partners to run the PLAY Program across 25 Indigenous communities each year. The program helps them build healthy habits, confidence and connections that support lifelong wellbeing.

Know your risk: take the Test2Prevent assessment

The 2026 World Diabetes Day theme is Early action on diabetes, with a focus on early diagnosis and reducing risk. Through its partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Sunlife is helping to promote Test2Prevent, a free online risk assessment.

  • It takes just a few minutes and asks about family history, lifestyle and other risk factors.
  • It estimates your risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years and suggests next steps, from healthier habits to talking with a healthcare provider.
  • It's available in 16 languages.

Please note: Test2Prevent was designed for adults aged 18 and over. It is not a diagnosis.

That's why this World Diabetes Day we're asking the grown-ups to take it: parents, grandparents, caregivers, coaches, teachers, Community Mentors and supporters like you. Children learn habits from the adults around them. Knowing your own risk is a powerful first step toward healthier choices for the whole family. If you're under 18, or worried about a child's health, please talk to a doctor, nurse or your community health centre. Take the Test2Prevent assessment

Thank you, Sunlife!

We're grateful to Sunlife for nearly a decade of partnership. Together with community partners, we're helping children and youth build healthier lives through the power of play.

Learn more about the PLAY program