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Building T1D research in partnership with you.

We need people living with type 1 diabetes to shape the research questions that can deliver the evidence needed to advance better treatment, policy and care.


User experience of the Connect1d platform

NEW! – User experience of the Connect1d platform

Start Date: 15 September 2025
The Connect1d Canada team wants to improve the Connect1d Canada platform by making it more useful, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of both patients and researchers. The goal is to make it easier for people with T1D to get involved in research that matters to them and, in the long run, help improve care and outcomes for everyone with T1D in Canada. For this project, we will interview patients and researchers to find out what’s working well with the platform and learn where we can improve.

    Connecting the Canadian T1D community

    Explore Canadian diabetes research and learn how our community is reshaping what it means to live with T1D.

    Explore Canadian diabetes research and learn about how our community is reshaping what it means to live with T1D.

    Current Research Projects

    User experience of the Connect1d platform

    Start Date: 15 September 2025
    The Connect1d Canada team wants to improve the Connect1d Canada platform by making it more useful, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of both patients and researchers. The goal is to make it easier for people with T1D to get involved in research that matters to them and, in the long run, help improve care and outcomes for everyone with T1D in Canada. For this project, we will interview patients and researchers to find out what’s working well with the platform and learn where we can improve.

    Fasted Exercise Training in Type 1 Diabetes

    Start Date: 22 January 2025
    This study compares aerobic exercise training performed before breakfast (i.e., in the fasted state) to similar training performed after breakfast in people with type 1 diabetes. Training will take place over 12 weeks in the Physical Activity Diabetes Lab at the Alberta Diabetes Institute.

    Effect of Virtual Care for Gestational Diabetes

    Start Date: 15 January 2025
    The purpose of this study is to explore experiences with virtual care. We are asking people that have gestational diabetes (GDM) to share their thoughts and experience in a focus group. We are recruiting individuals who pregnancy received care in Alberta. The study results will help us determine if there are differences between in-person and virtual care for GDM management, informing us how to improve GDM care in the future.

    Artificial sweeteners and Metabolism

    Start Date: 13 November 2024
    Artificial sweeteners (like sucralose) are popular low-calorie sugar substitutes, especially among patients with diabetes, but do they really help with blood sugar control? Research so far has shown mixed results. That’s why we’re launching a new study focused on patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to understand better how these sweeteners affect the body.

    T1D Study: Empagliflozin and Insulin Pumps

    Start Date: 1 April 2024
    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of 2.5mg empagliflozin (Jardiance) in improving glucose control in people living with type 1 diabetes using an insulin pump. We’re recruiting adults with type 1 diabetes using an advanced automated insulin pump (ex: Medtronic 780G, Tandem t:slim, etc.) with a sub-optimal glycemic outcomes (TIR below 70%). The study will last between 6-7 months and includes 3 visits of about 60-90mins.

    SUGAR NSalt

    Start Date: 2 October 2023
    Contemporary treatment of types 2 diabetes regularly involves the use of SGLT2 inhibitors. There is now interest in using this medication for type 1 diabetes alongside insulin treatment. T1D patient input is critical in understanding how and when the use of SGLT2 inhibitors is considered acceptable. We wish to explore the thoughts and perspectives of T1D patients about all the factors they would need to consider before starting this medication, including any risks or benefits they anticipate.

    Type 1 Diabetes Study-VX20-880-101

    Start Date: 29 March 2021
    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of an investigational islet cell infusion in individuals aged 18 to 65 with type 1 diabetes with severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and impaired hypoglycemic awareness. The goal of this infusion is to provide replacement cells for the ones that have been lost or do not work properly in people with diabetes. For more information, please respond to this ad and the study team will reach out to you.

    TrialNet: Pathway to Prevention Study – Screening

    Start Date: 1 July 2020
    Pathway to Prevention screening is the first step for all TrialNet prevention studies. Screening is offered at no cost to eligible individuals to evaluate their personal risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). This unique screening can identify the early stages of T1D years before any symptoms appear. It also helps researchers learn more about how T1D develops and plan new studies exploring ways to prevent it. Screening is offered to family members of people with T1D.

      Research News

      Patient Perspectives on the AGP Report

      3 August 2022

      Alterations in skeletal muscle repair in young adults with type 1 diabetes…

      29 September 2021

      Reducing the need for carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes using close…

      23 June 2021

      Decision coaching using a patient decision aid for youth and parents consi…

      1 January 2021

      Individual and community-level income and the risk of diabetes rehospitali…

      1 December 2020

      Muscle and serum myostatin expression in type 1 diabetes

      11 July 2020

      A novel dual-hormone insulin-and-pramlintide artificial pancreas for type…

      1 March 2020

        Living with T1D

        Many of us have lived experience with T1D, and we want to work closely with the diabetes community to co-create what the future of living with T1D looks like. Previously, we have heard from others living with T1D that they feel disconnected from research – hopefully with your help, we can change that!

        Get involved

        Tell us about yourself;

        Find out about studies, trials and projects that matter to you;

        Participate in the research that is the right fit for you;

        Stay informed about what happens at the end of the study – what did it find, what does it mean, what are the next steps after you participate;

        All leading to better, more accessible, timely T1D research.

        Your experience can change T1D research in Canada.

        Through Connect1d Canada, we want to capture every person living with T1D so that we can accurately represent the needs of this community and spark changes to policy and care. Unless we know how big the issue is and the key problems, it will be easy for T1D to be ignored. By joining Connect1d Canada, your voice can be heard – helping shape and direct future research and clinical care.


        Get Connect1d

        Connect1d Canada keeps you up to date on what is happening in the T1D research community. From upcoming studies to research outcomes, it uncovers the questions researchers are asking and, more importantly, what they are learning.

        Researcher of T1D

        Researchers have told us that they struggle to connect with people living with T1D and recruit them into studies, sometimes taking years to find enough of the right people to complete a study or clinical trial in T1D. By joining Connect1d, we can help you by providing: 

        • Streamlined recruitment: Connect1d Canada can help streamline the recruitment process for your studies by connecting you with participants who have already expressed an interest in research.
        • Access to a large and diverse patient population: Connect1d Canada has a growing network of people with T1D across Canada. This can provide you with access to a broad and diverse patient population for your research studies.
        • Patient-centred research: Connect1d Canada is focused on involving people with diabetes in every step of the research process, from study design to dissemination of results. By getting involved, you can benefit from this approach and work collaboratively with patients to design and conduct studies that are more relevant and meaningful to them.
        • Connect1d Canada welcomes opportunities to share research from both non-profit and for-profit organizations. If you represent an industry-sponsored organization, please note that additional review and a listing fee may apply depending on the scope, recruitment goals, and target population of the study.

        Diversity, equity & inclusion

        Our aim is to make research represent the diverse community of people living with T1D. We work with our patient and community partners to ensure the inclusion and representation of those who have been historically excluded or underrepresented in research studies. Work with us to give every person impacted by T1D the opportunity to learn, contribute, and accelerate research.

        Patient Oriented Research

        Connect1d Canada ensures that the values, needs, and preferences of people with lived experience are front and center. By co-creating Connect1d Canada with the diabetes community, we have built a platform for better participant engagement and retention than traditional research recruitment. This can ultimately lead to higher participant retention rates, better data quality, and improved outcomes for your research projects.

        Accelerate Recruitment

        Connect1d Canada rethinks traditional recruitment approaches and brings you the ability to rapidly recruit participants from across Canada. Once your study is posted, you will easily see who in the community is eligible to participate, and who is interested.

        Co-creating with leading experts in diabetes research

        The Canadian Institute for Health Research

        The Canadian Institute for Health Research has funded this project as part of the Diabetes Action Canada.

        University Health Network

        This initiative was designed and developed by the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation and University Health Network in Toronto, Canada.

        University of Toronto

        We are proudly partnered with the University of Toronto.

        JDRF

        JDRF has generously funded this project.

        Diabetes Action Canada

        Diabetes Action Canada, a Strategic Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) program, made this project possible.

        Strategic Patient-Oriented (SPOR) Network

        Diabetes Action Canada received funding for this program as a CIHR Strategic Patient-Oriented (SPOR) Network in Chronic Disease.


          Our team

          We want to make sure that every Canadian living with type one diabetes has the chance to engage in research in a meaningful way.

          Joe Cafazzo

          Biomedical Engineer & Executive Director, eHealth Innovation at UHN
          Cofounder

          Bruce Perkins

          Endocrinologist & Scientist
          Cofounder

          Kate Farnsworth

          Advocate and Director of Nightscout
          Caregiver, Cofounder

          Tracy McQuire

          Executive Director, Diabetes Action Canada
          Director

          Gary Lewis

          Endocrinologist & Scientist
          Cofounder

          Peter Senior

          Endocrinologist & Scientist
          Cofounder

          We’d love to hear from you

          200 Elizabeth St Toronto, ON M5G 2C4

          416.340.3400 x4765

          Begin your Connect1d Canada experience