Diabetes Symptoms and Testing in Mississauga: Who Should Get Checked This World Diabetes Day
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada, and November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Nearly 1 in 10 Canadians already has diagnosed diabetes, and many more have prediabetes without knowing it. Here's who's at risk, the warning signs to watch for, and how a same-visit test at a Mississauga walk-in clinic can tell you where you stand.
Quick answer
World Diabetes Day is November 14, 2026 (a Saturday), marking the end of National Diabetes Awareness Month. About 3.9 million Canadians (9.7% of the population) live with diagnosed diabetes, and 90 to 95% of them have type 2. Over 6% of Canadian adults have prediabetes, and it's common to have no symptoms at all. Diabetes Canada recommends screening (a blood glucose or A1C test) starting at age 40, or earlier if you have risk factors. In Mississauga, you can walk in to Medicare Clinic near Square One and have the test done at our on-site lab the same visit. Sources: canada.ca, diabetes.ca.
Think you might be at risk? Get a same-visit A1C or blood glucose test at Medicare Clinic, 3885 Duke of York Blvd near Square One. No referral needed, no separate lab trip. Walk-ins welcome, Mon to Fri 9 AM to 7 PM, Sat 10 AM to 3 PM.
Source: canada.ca, Diabetes: Overview.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms and warning signs
Canada's public health guidance is clear: it's entirely possible to have diabetes or prediabetes and feel completely fine. When warning signs do show up, they include:
- Unusual thirst, or needing to urinate more often
- Unexplained weight change (gain or loss)
- Extreme fatigue or low energy
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or recurring infections
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Source: canada.ca, Diabetes: Symptoms and treatment.
Two or more of these sound familiar? Don't wait for the next one. The on-site lab at Medicare Clinic can check your blood sugar the same day you come in.
Who's at higher risk of type 2 diabetes
| Risk factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Age 40 or older | Type 2 is usually diagnosed after 40, though it's becoming more common younger. |
| Overweight / inactive | Both raise type 2 risk directly. |
| High blood pressure or cholesterol | Often occurs alongside insulin resistance. |
| Family history of type 2 diabetes | Genetic risk is real and well-documented. |
| History of gestational diabetes | Raises lifetime type 2 risk. |
| Indigenous, African, East Asian, or South Asian background | Canada.ca names these groups as facing higher rates. |
If your family background is one of the groups canada.ca names, or two or more of these apply to you, that's one more reason a quick check at 40 (or earlier) is worth the few minutes it takes. Your family doctor can also order the test as part of a regular visit.
Source: canada.ca, Diabetes: Prevention and risk factors.
How diabetes testing works in Mississauga: fasting glucose vs. A1C
Diabetes Canada recommends screening with a fasting blood glucose or A1C test starting at age 40, or earlier and more often if you have the risk factors above, repeated roughly every 3 years if results are normal. Left untreated, more than half of people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 within 8 to 10 years, so catching it early genuinely changes the outcome.
Both tests are simple blood draws. A fasting glucose test means no food or caloric drinks for at least 8 hours beforehand (Diabetes Canada's clinical practice guidelines define fasting that way), so it's usually a morning visit. An A1C test doesn't require fasting, because it reflects your average blood sugar over roughly the past 3 months, so it can be done at any time of day. At Medicare Clinic's on-site lab near Square One, either one can usually be done during the same walk-in visit, without a separate trip to a lab.
Sources: Diabetes Canada, prediabetes fact sheet; Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines, ch. 3 (definition, classification and diagnosis), via the Canadian Pharmacists Association summary.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a diabetes test near Square One?
Medicare Clinic at 3885 Duke of York Blvd, a short walk from Square One, has an on-site lab, so a fasting glucose or A1C test can be done during a regular walk-in visit in Mississauga. You don't need a referral or a separate appointment at an outside lab.
What tests are done to check for diabetes?
The two main tests are a fasting blood glucose test and an A1C test (a blood test that reflects your average blood sugar over about 3 months), both available on-site at Medicare Clinic. Diabetes Canada recommends one of these starting at age 40, or earlier with risk factors.
What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the body stops producing insulin, usually diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood; it makes up about 5 to 10% of cases. Type 2, 90 to 95% of cases, develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't produce enough, and is strongly linked to the risk factors above.
Can I have prediabetes without knowing it?
Yes, and it's common. Over 6% of Canadian adults have prediabetes, and canada.ca notes you can have it with no symptoms at all. That's why age-based screening matters more than waiting for symptoms.
At what age should I get tested for diabetes?
Diabetes Canada recommends starting at 40, or earlier if you have risk factors like family history, high blood pressure, or a history of gestational diabetes.
What lifestyle changes help if you're pre-diabetic?
Diabetes Canada notes that more than half of all cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. Canada's public health guidance points to several everyday changes: maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active every day, eating a variety of healthy foods, limiting alcohol, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol alongside blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes itself "can be managed with healthy foods, regular exercise and losing weight," per Diabetes Canada.
Who can help with diabetes or prediabetes?
Your family doctor is your first stop. Diabetes Canada describes a care team that can also include a diabetes educator (nurse or dietitian), pharmacist, and other specialists as needed, and runs its own Information & Support Line (1-800-226-8464, info@diabetes.ca). At Medicare Clinic in Mississauga, that conversation can start with a simple on-site test at your next walk-in visit. Source: diabetes.ca, Newly Diagnosed.
Still have a question? Call the clinic and ask, or book a visit and get the test done while you're here. Either way, you'll leave knowing where you stand.
Why November 14?
World Diabetes Day was created by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in 1991, and the date honours Sir Frederick Banting, the Canadian co-discoverer of insulin, born November 14. Diabetes Canada reports that someone in Canada is diagnosed with diabetes roughly every 3 minutes, and the organization now supports more than 4 million people living with it across the country.
Sources: diabetes.ca (2025 Impact Report), Diabetes Canada media room.
This guide is general health information, not medical advice. Talk to a health-care provider about your own risk and care.