Sun Life and the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) Foundation have renewed their partnership to support diabetes prevention and remission efforts in Quebec. The new commitment involves a $600,000 donation over three years for the Sun Life Diabetes Prevention and Remission Clinic, increasing Sun Life's total investment to more than $1.5 million since the clinic began in 2019.
The Sun Life Diabetes Prevention and Remission Clinic, located at the MHI EPIC Clinic, focuses on early intervention and lifestyle changes aimed at reversing type 2 diabetes. Since opening, it has served over 1,500 patients with nearly 19,000 personalized follow-ups. According to the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation, "40% of patients with prediabetes achieve full remission, and 20% of newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes return to normal glucose without medication after 6 months."
Dr. Philippe L.-L'Allier, Director of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation at MHI, said: "What we are proposing here is much more than medical care. It is a change in trajectory. Every patient is empowered to take charge of their health. And many find a sense of hope they thought was lost."
Robert Dumas, President and CEO of Sun Life Quebec, commented: "For more than six years, the Sun Life Diabetes Prevention and Remission Clinic has been changing the lives of thousands of patients and their families. Diabetes affects not only physical health, but also people's mental and financial health and their dreams for the future. The Clinic provides essential support to all those facing this diagnosis."
Chronic diseases like diabetes affect about half of Canadians as reported by Statistics Canada in March 2025 (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-229-x/2009001/envir/env-eng.htm). In 2013, chronic diseases cost Canada an estimated $8.1 billion according to The Conference Board of Canada (https://www.conferenceboard.ca/temp/3c0b6f4d-7d8e-4a9c-b1e3-dfc18b25a06a/6700_ImprovingLifestyleHabits_RPT.pdf), with projections suggesting this could rise to $13 billion by 2030 if no action is taken.
The clinic addresses not only diabetes but related conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular problems through its preventive approach.
France Wagner, a participant in the program, shared: "I didn't think it was possible, but my blood sugar went back to normal. I take a lot less medication, I feel stronger, I feel freer. They didn't just help me live better with diabetes, they helped me get through it."
Globally, Sun Life supports organizations working on type 2 diabetes prevention programs. Since 2012, Sun Life has donated over $60 million CAD toward these initiatives. In 2024, it launched a life insurance product specifically designed for people living with diabetes.
More information about Sun Life’s resources can be found at www.sunlife.ca/en/health/diabetes or about the clinic at www.fondationicm.org/en/diabetes-prevention-clinic.
Founded in 1977, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation funds research projects addressing cardiovascular disease—one of Canada's leading causes of death—and has raised over $430 million for heart health initiatives since its inception.
Sun Life Financial Inc., which operates internationally across multiple markets including Canada and Asia-Pacific countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore as well as North America and Europe—including Ireland and the United Kingdom—had assets under management totaling $1.62 trillion as of September 30, 2025.