Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) at Diabetes Canada

Advancing Health Equity in Diabetes

At Diabetes Canada, our mission is to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. To achieve this, we must ensure that our impact reaches everyone equitably.

Diabetes does not affect all communities in the same way. Across Canada, certain populations, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, and people of South Asian and Black ancestry, experience higher rates of diabetes and face greater barriers to prevention, care, and support.

These differences are not by chance. They are shaped by social, economic, and systemic factors that influence access to care, quality of services, and overall health outcomes.

Advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) is essential to addressing these disparities. It strengthens how we design programs, support research, engage communities, and advocate for change—so that everyone living with diabetes has the opportunity for improved quality of life.

Stop the Stigma

Why IDEA and Health Equity is Mission-Critical in Diabetes

Health outcomes in diabetes are not evenly distributed.

• Some communities are developing diabetes earlier and encounter more complications.
• Barriers such as income, geography, language, and systemic racism impact access to care.
• Cultural relevance and trust influence whether people seek and receive support.

These barriers may be experienced in the following ways:

• Someone may not seek care because they’ve experienced discrimination in healthcare settings before.
• Indigenous communities may face limited access to consistent, culturally safe care due to geography and historical harms.
• Diabetes education may not reflect people’s cultures, their foods, traditions and family roles, so it can be harder to put advice into practice.
• People living in larger bodies may avoid medical visits due to judgement and shame.
• People without drug coverage may ration or skip medication due to cost.
• Newcomers may not know how to navigate the healthcare system or access available services.

Addressing these realities is not separate from our mission—it is central to it.

By making inclusion and equity part of everything we do, we aim to:

• Improve access to care, supports and education.
• Ensure research, education, and engagement reflects the diversity of people living with diabetes.
• Advocate for policies that reduce systemic barriers.
• Strengthen partnerships with communities where a higher prevalence of diabetes exists.

Advancing Allyship for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Advancing Allyship at Diabetes Canada

Health Equity in Diabetes

Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best possible health.

With our mission to improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes, we recognize that targeted solutions are necessary in improving outcomes for those who experience more barriers to care and where there is higher prevalence of diabetes.

Overall, strategies to address health equity in diabetes include:

• Reducing disparities in who develops diabetes and who experiences complications
• Ensuring equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, education, and supports
• Recognizing how social and systemic factors shape health outcomes
• Designing and/or supporting solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities

Achieving health equity requires moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and toward strategies that are responsive to different experiences and barriers.

Our Approach to IDEA and Health Equity

We are engaging and expanding to integrate IDEA and health equity across all areas of our organization, including:

• Research: Supporting research that reflects diverse populations and addresses disparities in diabetes outcomes, support and care
• Education & Engagement: Designing, supporting, and highlighting culturally relevant and accessible resources
• Advocacy and Policy: Advancing policies that reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes
• Partnerships: Learning from, supporting, and collaborating with community organizations and leaders
• Organizational Practices: Strengthening inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility within our workplace

This work is ongoing. We are continuing to learn, listen, and evolve our approach.

Our Journey Towards Reconciliation

Photography by Mike Alexander, Swan Lake First Nation, Thunder Cloud Designs.

Our land acknowledgement is only a first step in reconciliation and in building respectful, lasting relationships with Indigenous Peoples. We recognize reconciliation as an ongoing process—one that requires sustained learning, accountability, and action. Alongside our efforts to support Indigenous-led work to reduce the impact of diabetes, we commit to amplifying Indigenous voices and advocating for greater supports and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples, especially those living with or affected by diabetes.

Diabetes Canada acknowledges the history and ongoing legacy of colonialism in Canada, including the Residential School System, and the harm it has caused. These impacts contribute to inequities such as a higher burden of diabetes and other chronic conditions, food insecurity, and mental health challenges among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. We are committed to deepening our understanding of intergenerational trauma and to supporting Indigenous leaders and communities by advancing an Indigenous-designed and Indigenous-led diabetes strategy.

As part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, we have taken the following actions:

• Consulted with Indigenous communities to better respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
• Established a Working Group on the Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples for the Diabetes 360º initiative to help address the disproportionate impact of diabetes in Indigenous communities. The group identified the framework as a starting point for an Indigenous-owned, -led, and -implemented diabetes strategy reflecting the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
• Included an Indigenous stream in our annual professional conference to highlight Indigenous lived experience and expertise.
• Promoted work led by Indigenous organizations, including the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle and the National Indigenous Diabetes Association (NIDA).

We know this work must be guided by Indigenous Peoples and sustained over time. We will continue to listen, learn, and be accountable for progress as we build partnerships rooted in respect and support Indigenous-led solutions to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people living with diabetes.

Diabetes Canada Land Acknowledgement