Diabetes Canada Podcast

Diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, is one of the most feared complications of type 1 diabetes. That’s why researchers are looking for new and innovative ways to increase awareness of what DKA is and how it can be prevented. Host Krista Lamb talks Dr. Bruce Perkins about his research to develop a tool to reduce the risk of DKA, as well as exciting new technologies in type 1 diabetes.

How can we change the conversation about diabetes? For Diabetes Awareness Month, that’s a question Diabetes Canada is tackling head on. On this episode, host Krista Lamb is talking to Laura Syron, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada, about the many ways we can improve outcomes for people by rethinking how we talk about living with diabetes. This is part two of a two-part series with Laura – if yo...

How can we change the conversation about diabetes? For Diabetes Awareness Month, that’s a question Diabetes Canada is tackling head on. On this episode, host Krista Lamb is talking to Laura Syron, President and CEO of Diabetes Canada, about her journey with type 2 diabetes and the many ways we can improve outcomes for people by rethinking how we talk about living with this condition. This is part...

Many people are at risk for both diabetes and heart attacks. Millions of people take statin drugs to lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks. But could these drugs also increase the risk for type 2 diabetes? Host Krista Lamb talks to Dr. Jonathan Schertzer about his work on improving the safety and effectiveness of statins. Dr. Schertzer is an associate professor in Biochemistry...

As technology in type 1 diabetes becomes more advanced, we are starting to see an increase in personalized therapies. Whether someone is using hybrid closed loop or multiple daily injections, there are options being studied to make living with diabetes easier to manage. On this episode, host Krista Lamb interviews Dr. Ahmad Haidar from McGill University about his research into diabetes technologie...

Exercise is important for people with type 2 diabetes – and you don’t have to run a marathon or hit the gym daily to get great results. Host Krista Lamb talks Dr. Mary Jung about her research on how small changes in physical activity levels can have big impact. Dr. Jung is an associate professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus.

Driving with diabetes shouldn’t be a challenge, but in some cases managing blood sugars while behind the wheel can lead to difficult outcomes. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Ian Blumer about what you need to know about driving and hypoglycemia. He explains the potential problems people with insulin-treated diabetes might face and how to avoid them.

In someone without diabetes, blood sugars are controlled by a hormone called insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels, and is produced by cells in the pancreas called beta cells. If someone is at risk of developing diabetes, their beta cells can't produce enough insulin, which puts the beta cells under stress. The beta cells try to adapt, but if this fails, a vicious cycle begins. On this episod...

The vagus nerve is an important part of our nervous system that can regulate blood sugar levels by controlling insulin activity. When the vagus nerve malfunctions, that can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. On this episode of the Diabetes Canada Podcast, host Krista Lamb talks to Dr. Minna Woo about her research into how manipulating the vagus nerve may play a role in one day preventing...

Beta cells play a big role in diabetes, and what we know about them continues to evolve. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Bruce Verchere about beta cells and his lab’s work to better understand them. Dr. Verchere is the director of the BC Diabetes Research Network and a Scientist at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Vancouver.

Diabetes and heart disease are deeply connected – that’s why research into new and innovative treatments is so important. In this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr Sonia Butalia about her career and her work looking at new therapies to support heart health for those with diabetes. Dr. Butalia is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the Unive...

Recently, there has been discussion about ways to potentially put type 2 diabetes into remission. When possible, it could potentially reduce complications and allow people with the condition to reduce or go off medication completely. But, as with most things in diabetes, it’s complicated. And it’s not for everyone. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Harpreet Bajaj who is an endocrin...

When you live with diabetes, your treatment plan may need the occasional change. However, in some cases that doesn’t happen. That might be because of an issue known as “clinical or therapeutic inertia”. Dr. Peter Senior, Director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute, joins host Krista Lamb to discuss what this is and why it matters.

In Canada, leading stem cell scientists are working hard to find ways to use these cells to improve the health of people living with type 1 diabetes. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Francis Lynn from the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Lynn is leading research projects using stem-cell-derived beta cells, as well as exploring ways to use CRISPR technology in this wo...

Did you know that people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than those without diabetes? This fact has inspired researchers like Dr. Gillian Hawker to look at ways to better support those managing both of these chronic conditions. Dr. Hawker is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she is the Sir John & Lady Eaton Professor & Chair of the Departmen...

A number of scientists around the world are researching brown adipose tissue to determine the role this brown fat plays in type 2 diabetes. On this episode, host Krista Lamb speaks with Dr. Andre Carpentier, who is a clinician scientist at Sherbrook University and the Co-Scientific Lead at Diabetes Action Canada. Dr. Carpentier is giving a sneak peek of his talk from the Diabetes Canada/CSEM Profe...

Historically, type 2 diabetes has been seen as a condition that comes with age. However, that continues to change as people are diagnosed earlier and earlier. In the past 10 years, rates of type 2 diabetes in teenagers have doubled in Canada. Preventing the condition in adolescents has never been more important. Our guest this week is Dr. Jon McGavock who is a professor in the Department of Pediat...

Transitions are hard. The transition from pediatric to adult care in type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be especially fraught. Add in barriers beyond just living with diabetes and that adds a whole other layer of complexity, but researchers around the world are working to ensure better outcomes for all. Today on the Diabetes Canada Podcast we’re talking to Dr. Rayzel Shulman about the transition from pedia...

Diabetes Canada’s camping tradition began in 1953 in Eastern Ontario. Since that time, the D-Camps program has grown extensively and the organization currently operates nine overnight camp programs across Canada plus numerous year-round programs. Dr. Ilana Halperin and Dr. Noah Ivers are our guests this episode. As a family, they have spent time at D-Camps as part of the medical staff and support...

Research has shown that children who have obesity in puberty are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Scientists like Dr. Vincent Poitout are hoping to learn why this happens and ways we can prevent it. His work in this area was recently funded by Diabetes Canada and CIHR. Dr. Poitout is the director of research at the University of Montreal Health Centre and a professor a...

Beta cells are a big area of interest for researchers looking at ways to treat or prevent type 1 diabetes. Dr. Peter Thompson from the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba joins us on the show today to discuss his work studying beta cells to try and find new therapies.

March is Heathy Liver Month, which makes it a good time to discuss the ways that fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes are linked. For those who need a liver transplant, that connection is even more important. This episode’s guest is Dr. Mamatha Bhat, a hepatologist and clinician-scientist at UHN’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program in Toronto.

If you live with type 1 diabetes, how do sex and gender impact your exercise outcomes? In this episode, we’re talking to Dr. Jane Yardley who is a scientist and an associate professor at the University of Alberta. Dr. Yardley’s research focuses on exercise in people with T1D. Several of her projects look at the unique elements that impact women, including menstruation and menopause.

Living with type 1 diabetes is a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a limiting factor. For endurance athlete Sébastien Sasseville, living with diabetes has helped push him to go further—inspiring him to climb Mt. Everest, run across Canada and so much more! On today’s show, Sébastien discusses his career, diabetes technology and more. You can learn more about his work and his athletic pursuits o...

Denial, anger, depression and shame – Type 2 diabetes can lay the ultimate guilt trip. That’s the opening line of the description of CBC’s new podcast Type Taboo, which shares the story of journalist Emily Brass as she navigates her newly diagnosed diabetes. On today’s show, Emily opens up about why she decided to share her experience with type 2 diabetes through this new show. Type Taboo is avail...