Building Connections:  The Maestro Project

A Community Resource for Young Adults with Diabetes in Manitoba

Welcome to The Maestro Project! – an, innovative community resource and transition service for young adults 16 to 30 years of age with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Manitoba!

• Our purpose is to help young adults access and stay connected to appropriate diabetes related services in the community (like adult endocrinologists/specialty physicians, diabetes educators, optometrists, family physicians etc) who can assist you with managing diabetes to help reduce your rates of serious and life-threatening complications from this devastating disease.

• Transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care comes at a very challenging time for many young adults. Studies have shown that between 25-35% drop out of care and are lost to regular follow-up within a few years of transfer, putting you at increased risk for the short, potential life-threatening (diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia) and long-term complications of diabetes - that may have been prevented or delayed with regular surveillance.

• Support for accessing services is provided through the “Maestro” and the "Cultural Broker" – administrative ombudsmen /systems brokers who are available by phone and email to provide information for the care, education, support and research of diabetes in Manitoba.

• This project supplies every-other-month type 1 newsletters and quarterly type 2 newsletters informing participants of events, new technologies, research updates and supplemental diabetes education.

• Other program highlights for young adults with type 1 diabetes include: our Bean Bags Coffee Club, Evening Dinner/Educational Events, TEAM MAESTRO for the JDRF WALK to CURE Diabetes, Peer-Peer Mentoring Programs and our Young Adult Resource Book.

If you are a young adult with diabetes and would like more information about what this project can do for you, please see the letter to young adults with type 1 diabetes or the letter to young adults with type 2 diabetes and be sure to contact our Project Coordinator.

To contact the “Maestro” Project Coordinator – please call (204) 789-3719 or email:  

If you are a health care provider and would like more information about what this project can do for you and your clients, please see letter to health care providers.  Download the client referral form here.

The Maestro Project is supported by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre,  Child Health Program. We have been actively involved with establishing a centralized, comprehensive, coordinated, community based case management program for young adults with diabetes in Manitoba since July 2002.

 Room 512A John Buhler Research Centre, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4
ph: (204) 789-3719  email: