Diabetes: Prevention and Promotion

The second component of the CDS is working toward the creation of an effective diabetes prevention and control strategy for Canada. Among other things, this entails making people more aware of diabetes, its risk factors and complications, and how to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Already under way are social marketing activities aimed at raising public knowledge and understanding of diabetes and its complications, and what people can do to lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.

Obesity and physical inactivity are known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Still largely lacking are the knowledge and effective tools to help people decrease the risks. To help fill this gap, support will go to demonstration projects aimed at expanding the knowledge base on behaviour-change strategies, and on the prevention and control of diabetes in general. Because diabetes cuts across sectors, experts in nutrition, fitness, workplace health, school health, and cardiovascular health will all have opportunities to be involved in project design. To find out more about the types of collaborative initiatives that might qualify for support, visit the

Population Health Fund website.

The 2001 national symposium
An important landmark for this component was the national symposium "Tous ensemble... Vers une Stratégie nationale sur le diabète" held in Montreal (February 18-20, 2001), where participants worked toward consensus on gaps in the prevention and control of diabetes. Interactivity was one of the successes of the symposium whereby 250 participants representing the entire spectrum of professionals and organizations shared their knowledge and experience about diabetes in Canada. Many topics discussed at the symposium served to strengthen partnerships across sectors and regions, a prerequisite toward the common goal of reducing the burden of the disease.
From the onset, the symposium was viewed as a stepping-stone toward the development and implementation of a broad long-term national strategy capable of addressing the many interrelated aspects of diabetes which include prevention, education, treatment, research, and surveillance. The recommendations from this Symposium are expected to touch on areas both within and beyond federal jurisdiction, and to elicit a commitment to act from those organizations capable of making a difference.

Prevention and Promotion

Prevention and Promotion (P&P) ($41.8 million over 5 years)