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Patients and Families

Participants and their families are at the core of why we do the work and are involved in our research project in many ways.  Some parents work with our research team to make sure we are asking the right questions and doing the research in the best way we can.  Others are participants who help us gather data by coming to appointments and filling out questionnaires.  

​We appreciate all the time and dedication from every child, parent, caregiver, community and family member who helps us do this research.  

Next Generation, or NextGen, is a research study of Indigenous children of a parent who is living with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or normal blood sugar during pregnancy. We want to answer important questions about why type 2 diabetes runs in some families and what risks exist.  Our goal is to prevent the progression, treat early, or support families to live well with diabetes.

"We want to be part of the solution so our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can survive and thrive."   NextGen Parent and Family Advisory Group, 2021

About the Study

Who is able to participate?  

We are recruiting Indigenous mothers, fathers, and pregnant women who have type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or no diabetes at all, as well as the children born to these parents. We follow children to make sure they do not have early signs of diabetes.

Why are we doing the study?

We would like to answer important questions about why type 2 diabetes runs in some families and what risks exist. Starting at the age of 7, the kids are screened for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Our goal is to prevent progression, treat early, and support families to live well with diabetes.

​What will you do?

During pregnancy, the height, weight, and blood pressure as well as blood and urine samples are collected during the prenatal care visit.

We are also looking at the effects on children while they are in the mom’s womb through the collection of cord blood at delivery. Collecting cord blood does not harm the baby or the mother; it is collected after the cord is cut and is usually discarded after birth.

We think there is something unique happening when the child is in the mom’s womb since we see many more children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were born to mothers living with type 2 diabetes than children who were born to fathers with type 2 diabetes.

​We conduct annual assessments for the children, where height, weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels are measured, in order to help determine the risk factors involved with developing type 2 diabetes. This screening provides a more detailed look at the child’s health and is not normally done during a usual doctor or nurse visit.

​All test results are reviewed by a doctor and discussed with the parents/guardians. A copy of the results will be sent to the parents/guardian and to the child’s family doctor to update their records.

​Where and when will the study take place?

Where: Children's Research Institute of Manitoba if you are based in Winnipeg. Within your community, if you are based out of Winnipeg (where possible).

When: At a time most convenient for you and your family during the week.

“I put my kids in the NextGen study because I knew my grandmother had T2D, I had it, and I thought ‘Okay, it’s going through the generations.’ I thought, I want them to learn, because I didn’t learn about it until I had gestational diabetes. I know my grandmother was trying to tell me little bits here and there and I wasn’t listening until I actually had to deal with it. I thought, okay I want my kids to know about this because they might get it. They might have to deal with this, so I want them to know about it. I want to catch it before it gets to a point where it’s incurable, if it goes into kidney disease or if they have eye complications, all that stuff. I want them to be healthy and learn about it and see a dietician and make sure that they’re okay. I’m glad they did because 3 of them, out of my 6 biological kids are experiencing diabetes. So, they all know about it now. They know who to reach out to, they know how to deal with it, they know how to sugar test. It’s not a big deal to poke their fingers now. They know how to do all that.”

- Participant Testimonial

If you are interested in participating in the study, please contact us either by:

phone: 204-272-3064

email: yrawal@chrim.ca, or pirabor@chrim.ca, or nextgenstudy@chrim.ca

​Or by filling out your contact information using the button below:

how to get involved with the study

​Next Generation Study Newsletter

The Next Generation research study creates a newsletter in order to share updates, recent findings, and other exciting news related to the study. Click the newsletter button to view our most recent version.

Winter 2024 Newsletter

Winter 2023 Newsletter

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about the study or would like to participate in the study, please give us a call or fill out the form.

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Where we are located

Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba,

John Buhler Research Centre,

514- 715 McDermot Avenue,

Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P4.

Tel: 204-272-3064.

mobile phone: 431-294-4197.