World Diabetes Day, celebrated annually on November 14, honours Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin alongside Charles Best in 1922. Organized by the International Diabetes Federation since 1991, the 2024–2026 theme focuses on enhancing access to well-being services for people living with diabetes.
In Manitoba, diabetes—both diagnosed and undiagnosed—affects nearly 30% of the population, according to Diabetes Canada. People with diabetes face significantly higher health risks, including being over three times more likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular disease, 12 times more likely for end-stage renal disease, and almost 20 times more likely for non-traumatic lower limb amputations.
Recognizing the critical need for progress, Research Manitoba funded several diabetes research projects between 2023 and 2024, investing at least $531,154 to address prevention, management, and treatment.
Manitoba researchers are advancing innovative approaches, from exploring Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes therapies to studying gestational diabetes impacts on heart health and uncovering connections between stress, DNA methylation, and kidney disease among Indigenous youth. These efforts aim to enhance health outcomes and shape a brighter future for Manitobans and beyond.
Below are some of the diabetes research projects funded by Research Manitoba during the 2023-2024 year. We extend our gratitude to all of the dedicated researchers striving to advance diabetes health and innovation in Manitoba.
| Project Title | Primary Investigator | Institution | Program |
| Exploring the impact of anti-CD3 immunotherapy on beta cell stress in type 1 diabetes | Jasmine Pipella | University of Manitoba | PhD Research Studentship Award |
| Type 2 Diabetes Remission: A mixed method approach to Exploring Nutritional strategies that worked through lived experiences (T2DRENu) | Tahmina Rahman | University of Manitoba | Master’s Studentship Award |
| Epigenetics: A Potential Mechanism of Association Between Stress and Albuminuria among Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes | Liat Stitz | University of Manitoba | Master’s Studentship Award |
| Examining the effects of resveratrol-fortified bread with alpha amylase inhibitory property on a type 2 diabetes animal model | Cristina Rosell | University of Manitoba | Innovation Proof-of-Concept Grant |
| Maternal Diabetes and Smoking as Early Life Risk Factors For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Sriyani Ranatunga | University of Manitoba | Master’s Studentship Award |
| Role of SIRT3 deficiency in the development of gestational diabetes. | Khushali Trivedi | University of Manitoba | Master’s Studentship Award |
| An integrated high-throughput tissue imaging and cell sorting platform | Peter Thompson | University of Manitoba | CFI Matching Funds Program – John R Evans Leader Fund |
| Developmental origins of cardiomyopathy: The role of SIRT3 | Caitlin Menzies | University of Manitoba | PhD Health Research Studentship Award |