Diabetes: It’s a word, not a sentence!
The North Shore Diabetes Education Centre held two concurrent events on Nov 7 at Lions Gate Hospital and Evergreen House to help raise awareness and engaged individuals about their personal risk, checked blood glucose levels, and administered the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire (CANRISK) for interested passersby.
Over nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes — a condition if left unchecked increases one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As part of Diabetes Awareness Month, the North Shore Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) held two concurrent events on November 7th at Lions Gate Hospital and Evergreen House to help raise awareness.
Throughout the day, Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) engaged individuals about their personal risk, checked blood glucose levels, and administered the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire (CANRISK), a simple tool that calculates a risk score for having diabetes or prediabetes.
The event was also a great opportunity for those already diagnosed with diabetes to review their management and treatment with the experts. As Danielle Bergstrom, a clinical dietitian with the DEC and event organizer, noted, “I think many people were surprised to see that ethnicity can increase diabetes risk, especially those of South East Asian and South Asian descent.”
While non-modifiable factors like ethnicity, age, family history and gender can increase diabetes risk, lifestyle changes (including diet and physical activity) can help lower risk and allow one to live well with diabetes. Diabetes Awareness Day 2013 was the latest outreach event organized by the DEC, which has served the North Shore community for nearly 50 years.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list for upcoming diabetes events, email your contact details to nscds@vch.ca If you are interested in learning more about your diabetes risk, CANRISK is available online at www.publichealth.gc.ca/CANRISK
Danielle Bergstrom, RD, discusses diabetes risk with a VCH employee at Lions Gate Hospital