Government of Canada Announces Finalists of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge

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

Contacts: Matthew Kronberg, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, 343-552-5654; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Renée LeBlanc Proctor, Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, 873-455-6498, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 1-819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]