Diabetes Action Canada

Improving Lives with Diabetes Through Research, Patient Engagement, and Knowledge Mobilization

Our Network unites patient partners, researchers, diabetes specialists, primary care providers, nurses, pharmacists, data experts, and policy leaders to co-design solutions that transform care, reduce health inequities, and improve outcomes for all people living with diabetes.

Join Our Network

Donate

Patient Engagement

Engaging people with diabetes as active partners in health research to maximize the benefits of research for all communities.

Learn More >

Digital Health

Using health data to better understand those living with diabetes and transform diabetes self-management.

Learn More >

Knowledge Mobilization

Knowledge mobilization (KM) involves activities that help create and use research in practical ways, enabling research to be applied in real-world settings more quickly to improve the lives of patients and the public.

Learn More >

Recent News

Stem-Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes: Why Measuring What Matters Is the Next Frontier

26 February 2026

A new commentary published in Nature Medicine —“Adults with type 1 diabetes define what matters to them in stem-cell derived islet cell therapy” — calls for a shift in how emerging therapies are evaluated. The science behind stem-cell–derived islet cell therapy is advancing quickly. Clinical trials are showing promising results, including insulin independence for some […]

View Article >

At the Table: Youth, Diabetes, and Canada’s Global Health Voice

24 February 2026

This piece was written by Linxi Mytkolli, Director of Patient Engagement at Diabetes Action Canada. Linxi brings deep expertise in patient partnership and knowledge mobilization, and her appointment as Canada’s Youth Delegate on Global Health is a meaningful opportunity to extend that work onto the international stage. We are proud to see her leadership helping […]

View Article >

Diabetes Action Canada Secures Two-Year Renewal to Advance Patient-Oriented Research and Systems Impact

19 February 2026

Diabetes Action Canada (DAC) has secured two additional years of funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) program. This renewal supports the next phase of DAC’s national work to ensure patient-oriented research delivers measurable impact in policy, in practice, and in communities across Canada. Three Pathways to Impact […]

View Article >

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Webinars

How Insulin Was Discovered: Canada’s Gift to the World

When Sir Frederick Banting awoke in the middle of the night with an idea about how to treat diabetes, he had no way of knowing he was on the brink of transforming—and in many cases saving—the lives of millions of people around the world. Join Grant Maltman, Curator at the Banting House National Historic Site of Canada in London, Ontario, as he shares the unique story of Dr. Banting and how that middle-of-the-night moment changed history. Special bonus: Watch as Grant unveils Canada Post’s newest commemorative stamp to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. Also a special address by MP Sonia Sidhu, Chair of the All-Party Diabetes Caucus for the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Health.

Watch >

View All Webinars

Podcasts

Patient Partnership in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are the way we test new drugs or therapies on people, and they’re incredibly important to moving diabetes research forward. However, they can be challenging and complicated to develop and fund.

That’s where the new Diabetes Clinical Trials Network in Canada comes in.

This episode’s guests are Dr. Hertzel Gerstein, who is leading this new Network, and Diabetes Action Canada’s Executive Director, Tracy McQuire. They explain why the organizations have partnered with a goal of improving the pathway to moving the best clinical trials in diabetes forward faster.

Listen >

View All Podcasts

Land Acknowledgement

We begin by acknowledging the land on which Diabetes Action Canada operates. For thousands of years, this land has been the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishinabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Mississaugas of the Credit, and it remains home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples today.

To the Indigenous Peoples who have been the stewards of the lands where our Network members reside and work, we extend our deepest respect and affirm our commitment to fostering understanding and appreciation for the diverse cultures, histories, and knowledge of Indigenous communities. We recognize our responsibility and accountability in advancing the ongoing reconciliation process and are grateful for the privilege to work and learn on these lands.