Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar, either because it does not produce insulin (type 1) or cannot use insulin effectively (type 2). In Toronto and across Ontario, diabetes has become a growing public health challenge. As of 2024, 11% of Ontarians live with diagnosed diabetes, rising to 15% when undiagnosed cases are included, and 31% live with diabetes or prediabetes combined. Recent research shows that diabetes disproportionately affects socially disadvantaged and urban communities, with prevalence rising steadily from 2015 to 2021 across all age and socioeconomic groups in Ontario. Prediabetes — the stage before diabetes — has also increased by 25% between 2015 and 2024, especially in lower-income and urban neighborhoods, underscoring the urgency of early prevention and screening.
Diabetes develops due to a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. For type 2 diabetes, major risks include obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and socioeconomic barriers that limit access to healthy food and healthcare. In Canada, half of adults with diabetes have obesity, two-thirds have hypertension, and almost two-thirds do not meet physical activity recommendations. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to devastating complications: it contributes to 40% of heart attacks, 30% of strokes, 50% of kidney failure, and 70% of non-traumatic amputations, and can shorten lifespan by five to fifteen years.
Diagnosis typically involves blood tests such as fasting glucose, A1C, or oral glucose tolerance tests. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes but often includes lifestyle changes, medications, and ongoing monitoring. Recent studies emphasize that lifestyle interventions remain the most powerful tool for prevention and management. Increasing physical activity, improving diet quality, reducing body weight by even 5–7%, and addressing social determinants of health can significantly reduce risk and improve outcomes. Newer research also highlights the importance of neighborhood-level factors — such as access to healthy food, walkable environments, and community resources — which strongly predict diabetes prevalence in Toronto’s urban areas.
As Toronto’s population grows and diabetes rates rise, coordinated care has become essential. This is where Toronto Diabetes Care Connect (TDCC) plays a transformative role. TDCC’s work centers on connection — linking people to diabetes care and connecting healthcare partners across the region to ensure equitable access to high-quality, coordinated services. Through strategic partnerships, data-driven frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives, TDCC operates the Toronto Central Referral Service (TCRS), helping people living with or at risk of diabetes access holistic programs, education, and lower-limb preservation services. TDCC also collaborates with regional and national partners, including Diabetes Canada, to support the implementation of the Framework for Diabetes in Canada, ensuring that Toronto remains at the forefront of innovative, person-centered diabetes care.
Diabetes is preventable, manageable, and treatable — but only when people have access to the right support at the right time. TDCC continues to build a system where every person, regardless of background or income, can receive the care they need. To learn more or access services, visit www.torontodiabetesreferral.com.
