Brampton, ON – Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South and the Chair of the All-Party Diabetes Caucus, today engaged her fellow Parliamentarians to participate in the “Diabetes Days on the Hill” in order to raise awareness of diabetic risks to Canadians, and to build support for an updated comprehensive national diabetes strategy.

The first day of the two-day initiative began with a national press conference to highlight the issue with several prominent members of the Diabetes advocacy community joining MP Sidhu. At noon, she then chaired a meeting of the Diabetes Caucus, to discuss the Diabetes 360 strategy – a national framework proposed by Diabetes Canada to defeat diabetes.

Easily found on Parliament Hill today is a Diabetes mobile screening unit that was brought in to emphasize the prevention aspect of the Diabetes 360 strategy. Tomorrow, a reception is being held on the Hill to bring together parliamentarians to hear from experts and to highlight the findings and recommendations of the Diabetes Caucus.

“Diabetes is a disease that affects us all, and addressing it will require that all parliamentarians work together,” said MP Sidhu. “As a caucus, we have heard from many witnesses from across the country, and are now in a position to move forward with an effective diabetes strategy that will help millions of Canadians affected by this terrible disease. 

The All-Party Diabetes Caucus has already heard from expert witn.ses including the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association, the Department of Health, Diabetes Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada among others.

MP Sidhu also presented Bill C-043 this past May – the Diabetes Awareness Month Act – to fellow parliamentarians in the House of Commons.

In its meetings during the current parliamentary session, the All-Parry Diabetes Caucus will be actively working on sharing the Diabetes 360 recommendations with Canadians, in order to prevent and treat Diabetes, especially in the most vulnerable communities, to ensure the standards of health are being upheld across Canada and to reduce the substantial financial burden in direct and indirect costs that Diabetes puts on Canadians.