Diabetes: What Canada’s doing
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Framework for Diabetes in Canada
The Framework for Diabetes in Canada was released by the federal Minister of Health in October 2022, in accordance with the National Framework for Diabetes Act.
The Framework aims to provide a common direction for collaborative action to:
- ensure better health outcomes for people living in Canada
- support improved access to diabetes prevention and treatment
The Framework identifies several principles and components to recognize opportunities to support those living with diabetes and improve health outcomes. The principles emphasize the importance of:
- addressing health equity
- applying a person-centred approach
- differentiating between types of diabetes
- supporting innovation
- promoting leadership, collaboration and information exchange
The Framework is made up of 6 interdependent and interconnected components that represent areas for opportunities to advance efforts on diabetes:
- Prevention
- Management, treatment and care
- Research
- Surveillance and data collection
- Learning and knowledge sharing
- Access to diabetes devices, medicines and financial supports
These principles and components were derived from and build on what we heard from people in Canada throughout our engagement process on diabetes. We engaged many different people and groups from diverse sectors to:
- better understand the impacts of diabetes
- inform the development of the Framework
- help identify priorities for advancing efforts on diabetes in Canada
Engagement activities included:
- interviews and discussions with stakeholders
- virtual dialogue sessions that brought together organizations and individuals, including people living with diabetes and their caregivers
- an online feedback tool to identify gaps and opportunities
We also considered existing strategies and frameworks addressing diabetes and chronic diseases in Canada and abroad as we developed the framework.
Development of the Framework also included guidance from:
- provincial and territorial governments
- an external advisory group on diabetes, made up of key stakeholders, including persons with lived experience
- an interdepartmental advisory group on diabetes, made up of several federal departments who play a direct or indirect role in addressing diabetes
We also developed a Framework infographic to summarize our findings.
We included Indigenous Peoples and organizations in the engagement process to inform the framework. As a result, the National Indigenous Diabetes Association is undertaking a national Indigenous-led engagement process with Indigenous Peoples, communities and organizations to:
- allow enough time for meaningful and ongoing engagement
- address the unique needs and circumstances of diverse Indigenous communities
This more extensive engagement approach aims to capture the unique interests, circumstances and perspectives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis while recognizing the principles of reconciliation and the right to self-determination.
We recognize that diabetes is a complex disease, and there is still work to do to ensure better health outcomes for people living with diabetes in Canada.
We invite all sectors to use the Framework to address diabetes and advance opportunities in ways that:
- meet their mandates and objectives
- are adapted to their respective community contexts
Learn more:
- National Framework for Diabetes Act
- Framework for Diabetes in Canada
- Framework for Diabetes in Canada: Infographic
- Informing a framework for Diabetes in Canada: Stakeholder engagement summary
- Supporting the advancement of the framework for diabetes in Canada: Dialogues report
- Indigenous Engagement on a National Diabetes Framework (National Indigenous Diabetes Association)
- Framework for diabetes in Canada: Strategies and frameworks addressing diabetes and chronic diseases
Diabetes funding
In 2021, the Government of Canada committed $25 million over 5 years for:
- developing a national framework for diabetes
- diabetes research, surveillance and prevention
Of this investment, $15 million is going towards the renewal of the Partnership to Defeat Diabetes between the Canadian Institute of Health Research and JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). The foundation and its donors are providing an additional investment of $15 million to jointly fund a total of $30 million in type 1 diabetes research.
We've also invested an additional $10 million over 5 years for a new Diabetes Prevention Challenge, which will help to:
- identify new approaches to diabetes prevention
- promote the development and testing of new interventions to reduce the risks associated with type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes challenge (Impact Canada)
We invest about $20 million each year through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund. This goes towards improving healthy living behaviours among people living in Canada by encouraging:
- healthy eating
- physical activity
- tobacco prevention and cessation
The fund promotes these behaviours among populations at greater risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Funded projects focus on:
- supporting health behaviour changes
- building physical and social environments that enable better health
Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund
We recognize that different partners and sectors must work together to improve health and the conditions that shape it, including health equity and wellbeing. The Intersectoral Action Fund supports communities by funding projects that:
- address complex health challenges
- support intersectoral action on the social determinants of health
- These are the conditions in which we are born, live, grow, work, play and age.
Other diabetes activities
We recognize the importance of helping people in Canada reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes. That's why we're committed to working with partners to:
- promote health
- encourage healthy behaviours
- reduce the rates of chronic diseases
- support people to lead healthier lives in Canada
Learn more:
- Insulin
- Investments and tax credits
- Diabetes strategies in Canada and abroad:
- Initiatives related to the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of insulin:
- Global Diabetes Summit (World Health Organization)
- 100 Years of Insulin: Accelerating Canadian Discoveries to Defeat Diabetes
Related links
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