November is Diabetes Awareness Month and this year, it comes with an important milestone. The Toronto Diabetes Care Connect (TDCC) program, led by South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC), has released its 2024–25 Impact Report, highlighting how connection and collaboration are transforming diabetes care across the Toronto region.
At its core, TDCC is about bringing people together—clients, clinicians, and community partners—to build a more coordinated, compassionate system of care. Working at the regional level, TDCC helps ensure that everyone living with or at risk of diabetes can access the care and education they need, when and where they need it.
“Our work really centres around making connections,” says Sandra Fitzpatrick, TDCC’s regional facilitator. “Whether it’s connecting people to diabetes care through the Toronto Central Referral Service, or connecting diabetes program partner organizations to enable collaboration, we strive to deliver coordinated, high-quality diabetes care across the Toronto region.”
This year’s report shows how those connections are making a real difference. TDCC has strengthened networks between community Diabetes Education Program (DEPs) and hospital programs, supported new clinicians entering the field, and expanded access through the Toronto Central Referral Service. Key highlights from the report include:
- A stronger network of regional partnerships and collaboration among diabetes education programs.
- Enhanced focus on lower-limb preservation pathways to reduce complications and promote better outcomes.
- Increased alignment with primary-care reform and the move toward integrated care models, ensuring care is not only accessible but also person-centred.
- Evidence that system-level supports, like data-informed frameworks, capacity building, and streamlined referrals, are making a difference in how care is delivered and experienced.
These efforts are paving the way for a more connected, team-based model of care — one that reflects the province’s vision for a modernized primary care system.
As Ontario moves toward a more integrated and person-centred approach, TDCC and SRCHC are leading by example. Together, we’re showing that when care is rooted in community, grounded in equity, and built on collaboration, it not only strengthens the health system, it also transforms lives.
Want to learn more or connect someone to diabetes care? Read the full TDCC 2024–25 Impact Report or access referral information on the TDCC website.