News Release – Ottawa, Ontario

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in Canada with over 3 million people living with diabetes in the country and 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year. In 2012, one in 10 residents of Peel was living with type 2 diabetes. In 2018, this had increased to one in six. Diabetes poses many challenges, such as serious complications and premature death for those affected by diabetes, and has impacts on health care systems.

Today, Member of Parliament Sonia Sidhu for Brampton South joined the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, to announce the tabling of the first of its kind, Framework for Diabetes in Canada. The Framework provides common policy direction to help align efforts and to support improved access prevention and treatment for all types of diabetes to ensure better health outcomes.

As the Chair of the All-Party diabetes Caucus, and through her nation-wide consultations MP Sidhu heard from world leading experts and attended international conferences, where she heard clearly that a national framework is the best approach. The Framework was informed by people living with diabetes, academics, researchers, not-for-profit organizations, provinces and territories, Indigenous communities and other important partners to ensure that it makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those living with diabetes.

To move forward in addressing diabetes in Canada, we must look at social determinants of health and take a people-centred approach. All relevant partners are invited to use the Framework to guide action to address diabetes and advance opportunities in ways that meet their respective mandates and objectives, and that are adapted to their respective community contexts.

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