Diabetes Canada will take part in the Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma on March 28 and 29 in Jaipur, India. The international summit is bringing together advocates, researchers and health leaders to address diabetes stigma and discrimination.
Diabetes Canada has led national efforts to change how diabetes is understood and discussed. Through its Change the Conversation initiative, the organization aims to shift the values, language and beliefs that shape public attitudes about diabetes.
Building on the findings from Canada’s first national survey on diabetes stigma, published in the Social Experiences of Living with Diabetes in Canada report, Change the Conversation elevates the voices of people living with diabetes, challenges common myths and promotes respectful, stigma-free language and diabetes-inclusive environments in healthcare, workplaces, and communities.
“Stigma creates real barriers for people living with diabetes in Canada,” said Laura Syron, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “It affects mental health, access to care and whether people feel safe asking for help. The progress we’ve made in Canada shows change is possible and sharing that knowledge while learning from other efforts globally, helps move our efforts further.”
Syron was invited to speak on a panel titled Benchmarking and monitoring progress: How will we know when diabetes stigma has ended? The discussion will focus on how to define, measure, and track progress in reducing stigma. Syron will share insights from Diabetes Canada’s national research and its approach to tracking change over time to assess real-world impact.
Syron will be joined by Shusmita Rashid, Executive Director of Change the Conversation who will be presenting a poster titled “How do we move from awareness to action on diabetes stigma? A Canadian Perspective on Gaps and Strategies to Inform Global Action. The poster outlines strategies to shift language, behaviours, and policies, and highlights how coordinated action can improve the daily experience of people living with diabetes.
During the summit, Diabetes Canada will meet with international partners to exchange learnings and strengthen collaboration and collective action on tackling diabetes stigma —
replacing blame with understanding and supporting people living with diabetes to live well.
Learn more about the Global Summit to End Diabetes Stigma.