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Patient Engagement at Diabetes Action Canada

Transforming Research Through Patient Partnership

At Diabetes Action Canada, patients are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that the best research happens when it’s shaped by the voices and experiences of those affected by diabetes. By working directly with patients, we ensure our projects address real needs and bring meaningful changes to diabetes care and policy.

Our Approach: The 4Ls of Patient Engagement

Our Patient Engagement model is built on four pillars—our 4Ls—to capture the full range of experiences that make our research stronger and more relevant:

  • Lived: People managing diabetes every day, sharing firsthand knowledge.

  • Loved: Family members and caregivers whose support gives them unique insights.

  • Learned: Healthcare providers and researchers contributing their skills and expertise.

  • Laboured: Advocates and community leaders working to improve diabetes care and policy.

Each of these perspectives helps bridge gaps and build understanding, making our research more inclusive and impactful.

Become a Patient Partner

Getting involved with Diabetes Action Canada is simple and free! By filling out our Join the Network form, you’ll be added to our community and notified of our paid partnership opportunities.
Join the Network

Types of Patient Partner Opportunities

Patient partners play a vital role in shaping research and advancing diabetes care. Once part of the network, you could be invited to:

  • Focus Groups: Share insights in discussions about diabetes care needs and solutions.

  • Advisory Councils: Contribute to steering research directions and decisions.

  • Co-Design Projects: Work alongside researchers to shape patient-centered resources.

Signature Programs

In addition to regular patient partner opportunities, we offer flagship programs that provide deeper engagement and leadership roles:
Our Patient Circles
  • Patient Circles are made up of diverse individuals affected by diabetes across Canada, offering valuable perspectives to guide DAC’s work. We currently support three Circles:
    • The Collective Patient Circle: A group of 10-15 members meeting regularly to discuss research directions and policy insights.
    • The Francophone & Immigrant Patient Circle: 6-8 members sharing unique perspectives from Francophone and immigrant communities in French.
    • The Indigenous Patient Advisory Circle: 6-8 members providing insights specific to Indigenous diabetes care needs.

These Circles foster collaboration, support, and inclusivity across DAC initiatives. A dedicated page featuring each Circle, its members, and projects is coming soon!

Research to Action Fellowship

Our hands-on Research to Action Fellowship equips patient partners with training to lead in diabetes research, strengthening their skills in advocacy and co-design.

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Patient Leadership Award

The Catalyst for Change Award, recognizing patient partners making significant impacts in diabetes research and advocacy.

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Additional Resources

Become a Patient Partner

At Diabetes Action Canada, we believe that partnering with the people whose lives are touched by diabetes is critical to achieving our goals of finding real solutions to improve the lives of people and families who are living with this condition
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Recruit Patient Partners

At Diabetes Action Canada, we believe that research is most impactful when it includes real patient experiences. Our Patient Partner Recruitment Form connects researchers and organizations with individuals who bring direct, lived and loved knowledge of diabetes. Working with patient partners strengthens projects, provides unique insights, and drives meaningful change in diabetes care. This structured process has been developed with patient partners to ensure they are fully supported throughout the engagement process.
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