Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada is committed to ending the diabetes epidemic by preventing type 2 diabetes, delivering better care for people with diabetes, and funding research to find a cure. Diabetes Canada also actively advocates on behalf of people with diabetes to end the discrimination, stigma, and unfair treatment many people with diabetes face, as well as lobbying government for help to address Canada’s diabetes epidemic and working with healthcare professionals to implement best practices to care for people with diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease where your body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. Over time, too much glucose in the bloodstream can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
There are three major types of diabetes: type 1 (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes), type 2, and gestational diabetes. 90% of Canadians with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which most commonly develops in adulthood. Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy and is usually temporary.
One in three Canadians, including nearly 4 million Ontarians, are living with diabetes or prediabetes, and that figure grows with another diagnosis every three minutes. People with diabetes account for 30% of strokes, 40% of heart attacks, 50% of dialysis starts for kidney failure, and 70% of amputations in Canada. More than $50 million a day is spent on healthcare to treat diabetes and related complications across Canada.
It never leaves your mind. No matter what you’re doing.
Click to see video transcript
[Start of recorded material 00:00:03]
Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada was founded in 1940 by one of the discoverers of insulin, Dr. Charles Best. It was founded right here in Ontario, actually, and then spread across the country. The organization has had the same vision for the whole time. It’s to create a world free of the effects of diabetes. Diabetes Canada was one of the first to become involved with Federated Health back in 1983 and we were thrilled to partner with Federated Health Charities because the only way diseases are going to be tackled is if we work on it together.
Elllie Fraser: Client, Diabetes Canada
Since I was diagnosed so young, my whole life has been living with type 1 diabetes. It’s hard to even imagine what life is like without diabetes and that’s likely going to be for the rest of my life because there’s no cure yet. And so when I think about how diabetes has affected my life, I think of all the challenges and the mental burden. But I think of also the amazing
community that I’ve made. Of all the support that I’ve gotten to experience through D-Camps, because those are things that I never would have experienced if it wasn’t for
having diabetes; if it wasn’t for Diabetes Canada.
Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada
So here at Diabetes Canada, one of the unique things we do, in addition to providing education and knowledge to patients is we actually help connect people who live with diabetes. And one of the most important ways we do that is we offer and have for over 50 years something called D -Camps or Diabetes Camp. And these are nine camps across the country, happen every summer. And the only campers there are kids who live with type 1 diabetes. What I often get told from parents is this is the one setting where my child comes
first and their diabetes comes second. And it’s just such a break. So these are very long -term impact and when we get donations from donors like Federated Health Charities, this helps us keep those camps going.
Elllie Fraser: Client, Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada has had a profound impact on my life. I really don’t think I would be the person I am today if it wasn’t for D-camps. I was a camper starting in 2004, I joined staff in 2012 until 2018 and I’m now co -chair of the Friends of Camp Miranda alumni committee. So I surround myself with people who have been profoundly impacted by what D-Camps and Diabetes Canada does for all of the formative years of my life for sure. Being able to spend time amongst other kids living with type 1 being able to mentor our kids with Type 1 Diabetes as a younger adult and then now being around so many people who really understand the importance of community is really phenomenal. It gave me a lot of confidence and really empowered me to do a lot of things in my life.
Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada
Ontario Public Service and Federated Health Charities have been just vital to the success of Diabetes Canada over the years. On a couple fronts, the first is this has been long -term sustainable funding and when you do things like research, you don’t know when the next breakthrough is going to come. It’s really important that Diabetes Canada continue to receive donations from groups like Federated Health because unfortunately Diabetes is not going away. This is a disease that more people are going to have and it’s more necessary than ever that we are able to provide education for people who get diagnosed. Advocacy so that as diabetes medications and devices get more expensive how can you make sure those that need them, and then changing that conversation so people who get diagnosed don’t feel stigmatized or blamed for their disease.
[End of recorded material 00:03:39]
Across Ontario, Diabetes Canada programs help people with diabetes understand, manage, and fight complications from the disease. For example, last year alone, Diabetes Canada specialists helped more than 23,000 Canadians who called their information helpline looking for information or support dealing with diabetes. More than 20,000 children with diabetes have attended D-Camps, enjoying an authentic camp experience that combines fun activities, friendship, and education on how to manage their diabetes with help from on-site medical professionals.
“It’s really important for organizations like [Diabetes Canada] to exist,” Oria says. “To the donors that have helped this charity, I’d like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I personally have been affected by donations that have been given to Diabetes Canada, and at D-camps, I was provided with a loving community and role models when I felt isolated and small.”
Diabetes Canada was one of the first charities to join us when Federated Health Charities was founded in 1983. For the last 40 years, Diabetes Canada and Federated Health Charities have worked together to help those affected by diabetes live healthy lives and prevent the onset of diabetes.
You can learn about Diabetes Canada at Diabetes Canada.
Donate to Federated Health Charities today for healthier communities and a world free of the effects of diabetes.
Click on the button below to make a donation to Diabetes Canada through Federated Health Charities
For general questions:
647-278-9861
federated.health.charities
@ontario.ca
Address
315 Front St. West, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 0B8
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For general questions:
647-278-9861
federated.health.charities@ontario.ca
Address
315 Front St. West, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 0B8
Follow us
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