End Diabetic Kidney Disease

Too many Canadians have their lives cut short by diabetic kidney disease.

Join us as we launch a new challenge. Together we will find new ways to help Canadians living with diabetic kidney disease.

Please consider a donation today to help us change lives.

In 1921, Canadian researchers were at the centre of one of the world’s most important medical breakthroughs. The discovery of insulin over a century ago revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and has saved millions of lives. Some called it a medical miracle. We call it hard work by dedicated researchers. Frederick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod, of the University of Toronto, were awarded a Nobel Prize for their work.

We are honoring the historic discovery of insulin by creating a new and promising partnership. The Kidney Foundation of Canada is collaborating with the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) to accelerate research into diabetic kidney disease.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada and CIHR will each contribute $1 million over the next five years to bring together a world-class team of medical researchers. They will investigate new ways of preventing diabetic kidney disease and improving the outcomes of those living with this life-threatening condition.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is excited to announce details of the $1-million investment it is making. Funds are matched by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

What is Diabetic Kidney Disease?

Diabetic kidney disease is a serious kidney-related complication of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Up to 50% of Canadians with diabetes will have signs of kidney damage in their lifetime. Risk factors include a genetic predisposition, high blood pressure, poor glucose (sugar) control and diet. Diabetic kidney disease affects people from all backgrounds, but certain communities are more at risk, such as people from South Asian, Indigenous, African, and Asian backgrounds.

We need better treatments for diabetic kidney disease now. Did you know?

In the past 20 years the number of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes has doubled.
At least 11 million Canadians live with prediabetes or diabetes.
Nearly 4 out of 10 new dialysis patients also have diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in Canada.
Indigenous people have about three times higher rates of end-stage kidney disease, largely driven by diabetic kidney disease.
If you have diabetes, you should be tested once a year to see if diabetes is affecting your kidneys

The rapid rise in diabetes is leading to an alarming increase in the number of Canadians living with kidney disease and kidney failure. It is estimated that by 2023, 11.9 million Canadians will be living with prediabetes or diabetes. The costs of treating the disease are estimated to go from $14 billion in 2008 to $32 billion in 2023. You can help us break this cycle. It’s time to seek out the next great discovery. Let’s move the dial forward on improving outcomes for those at risk or diagnosed with diabetic kidney disease.

Too many Canadians have their lives cut short by diabetic kidney disease. Donate now. Let’s end diabetic kidney disease.