Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

The aim of this Café Scientifique is to highlight research in the area of diabetes prevention and foster public discussion on the topic. Approximately 2.5 million Canadians have type 2 diabetes resulting in over 12 billion dollars in annual direct treatment costs. High rates of obesity, widespread physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits foreshadow a continual rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes over the next 20 years. Strategies to prevent and lessen the impact of type 2 diabetes are a priority in Canada and there is increasing public interest in this topic. In this café four researchers will provide brief presentations about their latest research to illustrate a variety of viewpoints on the potential to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications. These presentations will be followed by questions and answers. The discussion will address practical questions such as: 1) Is prevention of type 2 diabetes the cure? 2) Is a healthy lifestyle enough to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes? 3) How beneficial is a healthy lifestyle after diabetes develops? The café will be open to the public and held during UBC's Celebrate Research Week 2013 in Kelowna, BC.