When health practitioners talk about diabetes, the focus is often on blood sugar levels, diet plans, testing tools and medications. But behind these conversations are decades of evidence-based research, groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and — most importantly — the voices of those living with the disease every day.
Canada has been at the heart of these discoveries. We are, after all, the country that gave the world insulin. However, our contributions don’t stop there. Canadian researchers have been at the forefront of islet cell transplants, stem cell research and the development of life-changing pharmaceutical interventions.
But it’s not researchers alone. Diabetes research in Canada is being shaped by the voices of those living with diabetes every day. Research questions that prioritize the needs and realities of people with diabetes, rather than focusing solely on theoretical outcomes are what makes Canada a leader in diabetes research.
In conversations with researchers and patients alike, the message is clear: science matters — but so does the human experience. We’ve made important strides in moving research beyond the lab and into the lived experiences of those who manage diabetes in their everyday lives.
What does this mean in practical terms?
For too long, people with diabetes have been stigmatized, reduced to stereotypes about personal responsibility and poor choices. The reality is far more complex. Genetics, biological mechanisms and social determinants of health play huge roles — and ignoring them isn’t just misguided, it’s harmful.
Consider the increasing rates of type 2 diabetes in younger Indigenous populations, influenced by epigenetic risk factors and systemic inequities arising from centuries of colonization. Understanding these nuances — and investing in research that explores them — is key to better management, prevention, and eventually, cures.
One area where research and lived experience are intersecting in exciting ways is in the use of GLP-1 agonists — drugs like Ozempic — which are changing not just how we manage diabetes, but how we understand the biological roots of obesity and cancer.
Terminology also matters. The shift from calling it “juvenile diabetes” to “type 1 diabetes” acknowledges that this autoimmune condition can affect people of all ages, not just children. And understanding the difference between type 1 (immunologic) and type 2 diabetes (metabolic) is crucial for clear, productive conversations around management and treatment.
Even the way we look at obesity has changed with research. Long considered a symptom of other conditions, obesity is recognized today as a health condition on its own, leading to new approaches and interventions.
We also cannot underestimate the incidence and prevalence of diabetes or underplay its role as a risk factor for other conditions. Four million Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes and another one million Canadians are estimated to live with undiagnosed diabetes.
When untreated or inadequately managed, the disease causes heart attacks, strokes, vision loss and kidney failure — all chronic conditions that also lead to increased healthcare costs in the long term.
Managing diabetes is also expensive for patients — as much as $10,000 to $18,000 out of pocket every year. For low-income Canadians, access to healthy food, medications and healthcare resources can be out of reach.
The conversation about diabetes must extend beyond pharmaceutical breakthroughs and into questions of affordability, access and social support. Addressing social determinants of health, such as income, food security and education, is just as vital as developing the next miracle drug.
We must also recognize that the cost of living with diabetes doesn’t only come in dollars — it comes in time, mental energy and emotional weight. The daily calculations, the constant vigilance and the societal judgment can be exhausting.
That’s why research that includes patient voices, and acknowledges the human toll, is so critical. The research emerging from Canadian labs is not just about molecules and mechanisms; it’s about giving people longer, healthier and a better quality of life.
Research matters. How we communicate results matters. Diabetes research must continue to inform practice and support greater understanding across multiple levels: people with diabetes and their families, healthcare practitioners and society at large.
Canada’s story in diabetes research is one of scientific excellence and quiet humility. It’s time to champion the groundbreaking work happening here, from our labs to our communities. And it’s time to challenge stereotypes, listen to those living with diabetes, and ensure that science and society move forward together.
It’s time to support research and treatments with more than just words. Because when it comes to diabetes, Canada has a lot to be proud of — and even more to fight for.
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