Toward the Goal of Understanding and Tackling the Social Determinants of Diabetes.

Diabetes cannot be understood purely by research into biological and lifestyle factors. Significant social determinants of health (SDOH), such as income, employment and housing, play a critical role yet remain under-studied. Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2S+ and low-income communities are disproportionately impacted by diabetes. These inequalities are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources, and were propelled to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding and mitigating the impact of social determinants of diabetes are urgent priorities given the prevalence and economic cost of the disease. This special issue, the first of its kind for the Canadian Journal of Diabetes, brings together multifaceted research on the profound social determinants that affect people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This is a crucial step toward understanding and tackling disparities in diabetes research, care and policy.