CHILD & YOUTH DIABETES
Our Child & Youth Diabetes Strategy focuses on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and its complications affecting Indigenous Peoples and communities in northern and remote regions of Canada.
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and youth. Type 1 diabetes, the main form of the disease in children, has been increasing around the world and is occurring much earlier in life. Type 2 diabetes, which used to be thought of as an adult disease, has been rising in Canada and globally in children and youth over the past two decades. Significant increases in overweight/obesity and physical inactivity are likely contributing to the growth of type 2 diabetes in children and youth. Diabetes during pregnancy, which heightens the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both the mother and the child, has also been increasing steadily. The early onset of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increases the risk for related complications, such as kidney disease, blindness and amputations. Once diagnosed with diabetes, children and youth must manage the disease throughout their lives.
While important progress has been made on a number of fronts, diabetes continues to be an epidemic in Canada and around the world. Today, more than 11 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes – and rates are on the rise, with type 2 diabetes in Indigenous youth recognized as the fastest growing pediatric chronic disease world wide. For First Nations individuals at 20 years of age in Canada, the lifetime risk of diabetes is up to 80%.
Our Strategic Approach
The Lawson Foundation has a long history of supporting work in diabetes. Learn more about our approach and the evolution of our strategy below.
Understand our Impact
Access information about our granting history and the projects that we fund in our Grants Navigator.
Related News and Updates
Child & Youth Diabetes Strategy | Virtual Learning Series Episode # 3 | Indigenous Birth Helpers | October 12
Join us on October 12, 2023, alongside our partner, Wiiji’idiwag Ikwewag, for the upcoming Episode 3 of the Lawson Foundation Child and Youth Diabetes Strategy Virtual Learning Series! Episode 3 will feature Jolene Mercer, Chairperson & Co-Founder, Wiiji’idiwag...
Child & Youth Diabetes Strategy | Virtual Learning Series Episode # 2 | Culture & Diabetes
“I am not this disease. It came to tell me that I need to start loving myself.” Grandmother Renee Thomas-Hill shares her wisdom in episode 2 of our virtual learning series on diabetes and Indigenous wellbeing. Watch the recording and listen to the conversation as...
Child & Youth Diabetes Strategy | Virtual Learning Series Episode # 1 | Food Matters
Watch the recording: episode 1 of our virtual learning series on diabetes and Indigenous wellbeing! Episode 1 features a conversation with Demian Lawrenchuk, Fox Lake Cree Nation and Executive Director of Food Matters Manitoba. Listen to Demian’s exploration of his...
Child and Youth Diabetes Strategy: New Virtual Learning Series launches on April 6th
Our new quarterly virtual learning series will feature different speaker(s) on topics related to health and Indigenous communities. The goal of the series is to inform participants from various sectors about Indigenous communities and their relationships with health...
Child and Youth Diabetes Strategy: Lawson Foundation invests over $3 million in Indigenous-led initiatives
Earlier this year, the Lawson Foundation announced the launch of the second phase of our Child & Youth Diabetes Strategy (CYDS) with a more strategic focus on the prevention of type 2 diabetes in northern and remote Indigenous communities across Canada. This ten...
Director, Diabetes Prevention Hiring Announcement
We are thrilled to announce that Jeff LaPlante has joined the Lawson Foundation as our new Director, Diabetes Prevention. Jeff joins the Lawson team at a critical time as we sharpen our Child & Youth Diabetes focus to concentrate on the prevention of type 2...