TORONTO, July 12,
2024 /CNW/ - Diabetes is one of the most common
chronic diseases in Canada,
affecting approximately 3.6 million people – and more
than 200,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The number of
people living with diabetes is expected to continue rising as
Canada's population ages and
grows.
Today, Sonia Sidhu, Member
of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Mark
Holland, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical
Activity, announced the final stage and seven finalists in the Type
2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge.
This Challenge is among the innovative ways that the
Public Health Agency of Canada
supports chronic disease prevention in Canada. Launched in fall 2022 in partnership
with Impact Canada, the Challenge has attracted
innovators to develop and implement community co-designed
approaches that address the barriers and influences that can
increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Each finalist will receive a $600,000 prize, for a total of $4.2 million, to demonstrate the
effectiveness of their concept. The Challenge will
empower Canadian communities to safeguard their health by providing
them with tools and resources to learn and adopt healthy behaviours
to prevent type 2 diabetes or mitigate negative diabetes-related
health conditions.
The finalists will have 18 to 21 months to implement their
concepts. Results will be submitted to the panel of judges for
review and assessment, and up to two winners will be selected to
receive a $1.25 million grand
prize.
Quotes
"This Challenge will help bring innovation to how we
address diabetes in Canada,
alongside our National Pharmacare plan, where we are working
to ensure all Canadians can access the diabetes medications they
need. I'd like to express my gratitude to all
challenge participants."
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of
Health
"This Challenge supports our goal of improving the health
of Canadians by encouraging healthy and active lifestyles. Physical
activity is proven to help prevent chronic disease, like diabetes,
as well as improve our overall physical and mental health. Thank
you to all of the participants and congratulations to the
finalists."
The Honourable Carla
Qualtrough
Minister of Sport and Physical
Activity
"Each community in Canada
has a unique context that influences the risk of developing
diabetes, and this context also influences a unique set of
strengths and skills for the community. Congratulations to the
finalists for bringing forward innovative approaches that address
the needs of their communities, creating new ways to use resources,
supports, and ideas to better reach individuals and help prevent
type 2 diabetes."
Sonia
Sidhu
Member of Parliament for
Brampton South
Quick Facts
- There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2,
and gestational diabetes. Other types are uncommon and
can be caused by genetic mutations, other diseases or medications.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of diabetes cases in
adults in Canada. A variety of
factors influence the development of type 2 diabetes, including
age, genetics, modifiable lifestyle risk factors, and intersecting
social, economic, and environmental determinants of
health.
- Healthy behaviours (e.g., healthy eating and physical
activity) can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and negative
diabetes-related health outcomes.
- Some people in Canada,
such as people of African descent, First Nations and Métis people,
people of South and East Asian descent, as well as people with
lower household income and education attainment levels, have higher
rates of type 2 diabetes compared to the general
population.
Related Products
- Backgrounder: Government of Canada Announces
Finalists of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Challenge
- Judges and Co-Chairs
- Information about diabetes
- Government of Canada Announces New Framework for Diabetes
in Canada
- Framework for Diabetes in Canada
SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada