The Highs and Lows of International Travel: Reflections from the End Diabetes Stigma Summit
Ryan Hooey is a person living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and a passionate advocate for accessibility. Diagnosed more than 30 years ago, Ryan’s experience with T1D has taught him the importance of ensuring equitable access to medication, technology and care. As a person with diabetic retinopathy, a degenerative eye condition experienced by many people […]
The Humanity Behind the Condition: Reflections from the End Diabetes Stigma Global Summit
Al works as a heavy-haul trucker, is a husband, and a father of two teenagers. Al is an advocate and patient partner with Diabetes Action Canada and Obesity Canada, as he hopes to help all people whose lives are touched by disease. Al and his wife both live with type 2 diabetes and obesity, and […]
Beyond the Token Seat: Patient Partnership Across the Research Lifecycle
Alex St. John is a PhD candidate in Physical Activity Sciences at Université de Montréal, where his research focuses on exercise and blood glucose management in people living with type 1 diabetes, a condition he has navigated himself for over 13 years. Based between Ottawa and Montréal, he is a Diabetes Action Canada Research-to-Action Fellow […]
From Awareness to Action: What Day Two of the Diabetes Stigma Summit Revealed
Anmol Budhiraja is a mental health and crisis response professional from Toronto, Ontario, whose work is grounded in harm reduction and community advocacy and informed by their lived experience with Type 2 diabetes and caring for loved ones with the condition. As a patient partner and lived-experience research collaborator, they are passionate about challenging stigma, […]
Reflections from Day One of the End Diabetes Summit: Who Has the Power, and Who is Stigmatized?
Matt is a person living with type 2 diabetes. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, and works remotely as a research assistant with the University of Calgary. Matt’s Call to Action: Create systems where people with lived experience are not just included in conversations about diabetes but are trusted, respected, and empowered to shape decisions. My […]
Not Another Brick, Rehumanizing Diabetes Beyond Stigma: Reflections from the End Diabetes Global Summit
Mohammed Najeeb Ashraf is a medical communications expert and the CEO of SciVoc Consulting with over 35 years of lived experience with Type 1 diabetes. He brings a deep commitment to advocacy, health equity, and elevating patient voice in science and research. Najeeb’s Call to Action: Rehumanize diabetes care by seeing and treating people as […]
When Intention Creates Connection: Reflections from Night One at the Global End Diabetes Stigma Summit
Brit is a disability and health equity advocate from London, Ontario. As someone living with type 1 diabetes and diabetes-related complications, she speaks openly about how stigma shapes healthcare experiences. She is a Research-to-Action Fellow with Diabetes Action Canada, focused on turning lived experience into action. Brit’s Call to Action: Create intentional, inclusive spaces that […]
Why Patient Voices Matter Here: How Conferences Can Better Include Lived Experience
Written by: Brit Hancock. Brit is a disability and health equity advocate from London, Ontario. As someone living with type 1 diabetes and diabetes-related complications, she speaks openly about how stigma shapes healthcare experiences. She is a Research-to-Action Fellow with Diabetes Action Canada, focused on turning lived experience into action. Returning to In-Person Diabetes Conferences […]
At the Table: Youth, Diabetes, and Canada’s Global Health Voice
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 […]
Amplifying Patient Voices: Reflections after ISPAD 2025
Last November, I had the opportunity to attend the annual international conference of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, held this year in Montreal. As DAC’s Francophone Engagement Coordinator, my goal was to learn about new clinical, policy, and advocacy developments, while proudly representing and championing Francophone voices. Accompanied by my colleague Linxi […]