Our vision at Diabetes Canada is a world free from the effects of diabetes. That’s why we work together to improve the lives of those living with diabetes—sharing knowledge and resources, supporting health-care professionals to improve patient care, advocating for change through policy, and funding research to advance treatments and discover a cure.
Living with diabetes is a complex and often relentless journey, testing the resilience of every individual affected. Diabetes Canada is here to help—providing tools, resources, and support to make that journey easier.
Vision
A world free from the effects of diabetes
Aspiration
To improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with diabetes
Core Values
Agility
We anticipate, prepare for, and welcome change in ever-changing environments.
Collaboration
We work as one team towards our common vision and goals.
Excellence
We bring our personal best every day by taking accountability and delivering outstanding work.
Integrity
We stand by our word, own our mistakes, and always speak with honesty.
Taking Initiative
We spot opportunities and challenges and act on them.
Our New Strategic Plan 2026-2030
This new strategy builds upon the accomplishments Diabetes Canada has made in recent years, while calling out new areas of focus that will empower us to achieve our organization’s vision – a world free of the effects of diabetes. This video will walk you through Diabetes Canada's strategic plan 2026-2030, presented by Laura Syron, President and CEO. Our Strategic Plan 2022-2025 remains our guiding framework through the end of 2025. Explore it here.
0:00 hello Laura Siren here president and CEO 0:03 of Diabetes Canada i am delighted to 0:06 share our organization's new strategic 0:09 plan for 2026 to 2030 it builds upon the 0:13 strong achievements Diabetes Canada has 0:15 made over the past three plus years 0:18 while also calling out new areas of 0:20 focus for us let's dive in 0:28 what is Diabetes Canada strategic plan 0:30 from 2026 to 2030 well as I said our 0:33 focus continues to be on improving the 0:36 quality of life of people in this 0:38 country who live with diabetes and how 0:39 we're going to do that well we have what 0:41 we call three game changers or big bets 0:43 we're making the first is continue to be 0:46 the trusted source and provider of 0:48 knowledge whether that's to people who 0:50 live with diabetes or their health care 0:53 providers because we know when people 0:55 who live with diabetes have more 0:58 knowledge they actually leave healthier 1:00 lives and this is what we want folks to 1:02 do and not just them but their health 1:05 care provider too and many people in 1:08 Canada who live with diabetes um don't 1:10 have specialists so they might see a 1:13 pharmacist a nurse practitioner primary 1:15 care so how do we make sure that all 1:17 those folks have in hand the latest 1:20 knowledge about good diabetes management 1:23 the second game changer is focused on 1:26 supporting and working with communities 1:29 where diabetes rates are much higher 1:32 that would include indigenous 1:33 communities and several other 1:35 communities including the black 1:36 community the South Asian community and 1:38 Southeast Asian community the third game 1:41 changer is what we call change the 1:42 conversation and what we know about 1:44 diabetes is that stigma can be real that 1:47 many people who live with diabetes 1:48 experience blame and shame for that and 1:51 we need to change that conversation so 1:53 that people live with diabetes feel 1:55 empowered to get the care they need 1:58 there are three then drivers change 2:01 drivers also in this plan and they're 2:03 essential for us as well we will 2:05 continue to fund research all kinds of 2:08 research whether it's on prevention or 2:10 care or cure because that's the bedrock 2:13 of new knowledge in treating diabetes 2:17 the second thing is advocacy we will 2:19 continue to advocate for key issues 2:21 whether it's at the federal level 2:23 provincial level territorial level on 2:25 things that people who live with 2:26 diabetes care about access affordability 2:30 equity and the third one is connection 2:33 because we know and the research says 2:34 that if you live with diabetes and you 2:37 are more connected to other people you 2:39 will do better with your disease so we 2:41 run things like um diabetes camps for 2:44 kids who live with type one or peer 2:46 support groups and all of this of course 2:48 is wrapped up with our values how are we 2:50 going to make these changes well our 2:53 values we call them ACIT uh agility 2:56 collaboration excellence integrity and 2:59 taking initiative and we want to do 3:00 everything I've just talked about within 3:02 those values strategic planning is a 3:05 team exercise and I'm so grateful that 3:08 this plan came together with input from 3:10 a broad range of partners supporters and 3:12 most importantly people who live with 3:15 diabetes together we have created a 3:17 clear roadmap to improve the quality of 3:20 life for all those who live with 3:22 diabetes in Canada i'm excited and 3:25 energized as we set out on this next 3:27 chapter together always with our shared 3:30 collective vision a world free of the 3:33 effects of diabetes thank you
Our history
In 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting was working as a doctor in London, Ont., when he first thought of taking insulin from a pancreas to treat diabetes.
After experimenting for a few months with the help of his assistant, Charles Best and biochemist James Collip and support from Professor John J.R. Macleod of the University of Toronto, they were able to create pure insulin that could be used on humans.
The first successful test on a human patient with diabetes happened on January 23, 1922—it was a life-changing discovery.
The Canadian Diabetes Association
In the late 1940s, Charles Best formed the Diabetic Association of Ontario to help advocate for and serve the needs of the growing numbers of Canadians with diabetes.
After this, other provinces and territories formed their own diabetic associations. In 1953, they decided to amalgamate and become the Canadian Diabetes Association, which provided advocacy, education, research funding, and programs and services for those living with the disease.
Diabetes Canada: a new name and mandate
On February 13, 2017, The Canadian Diabetes Association changed its name to Diabetes Canada. This name change represents our renewed commitment to changing the conversation around diabetes, making the invisible disease more visible, and raising awareness about the diabetes epidemic.
Diabetes Canada is committed to partnering with Canadians to End Diabetes through:
Resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes
Advocacy to governments, schools and workplaces
Funding world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure
Before Diabetes Canada support, I struggled at convincing granting agencies that my ideas were worth pursuing. Diabetes Canada really saved my career as an independent investigator.
Dr. Pere Santamaria, Researcher
Together, we're Type Resilient
Managing diabetes takes strength most people never see. You’re not alone. Diabetes Canada is here to support and empower you.
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