VCH joins the global fight against urban diabetes

7% of Vancouver residents have diabetes – projected to rise to over 10% by 2020.

People with diabetes are more likely to be hospitalized than the general population:

• 3x more likely with cardiovascular disease
• 12x more likely with end-stage renal disease
• over 20x more likely for a non-traumatic lower limb amputation

On Monday, November 14, Vancouver launched its participation in the Cities Changing Diabetes initiative, which partners Vancouver Coastal Health with the City of Vancouver, the Canadian Diabetes Association, Simon Fraser University and Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.. Vancouver strives to become a global leader in healthy living, and through the Cities Changing Diabetes program, will act as a catalyst for meaningful action to help defeat the urban diabetes challenge. We join Copenhagen, Houston, Mexico City, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Johannesburg as a “study city.”

“Over the past year, the VGH Diabetes Outpatient Clinic treated approximately 2,885 clients, with a total of 6,400 visits. That is too many,” says Dr. Rolando Barrios, senior medical director for Vancouver Community. “As a health authority, VCH can do much, but our programs and initiatives are most successful when we work in partnership with other organizations in our community.”

Dr. Barrios gets active with some ball handling skills!

School-aged event participants get their own chance to score.

VCH considers the key to stopping preventable diabetes (before it starts) are the three pillars of healthy eating, physical exercise and smoking cessation. VCH provides a range of health programs and promotion as well as works in partnership with community organizations to offer additional programs targeted to specific populations, such as:

• Healthy walking program introduced for women in the South Asian community
• Community gardens and kitchens established at supportive housing developments
• Access for All program initiated with a local YMCA, to create access to exercise programs for low-income individuals and families
• Screening and risk assessment clinics held at health fairs
• Small community grant program helps to support initiatives focusing on the three pillars of prevention, such as a webinar on living well with diabetes, a 2-part diabetes education workshop, and a health support group focusing on nutrition

Dr. Rolando Barrios gets a positive CANRISK result – check your own risk for diabetes!

“We’re on the front lines in the fight against diabetes. Our clinics work every day to educate and help Vancouverites prevent or manage diabetes, with a focus on healthy living,” says Dr. Barrios. “The Healthy Living Program focuses on adult health promotion and chronic disease prevention, from screening through to providing strategies to limit further negative effects of a chronic condition, including diabetes.”

The rise of type 2 diabetes presents a serious health challenges across the world, and here at home. Cities are home to more than half the world’s population, and two-thirds of people with diabetes live in urban areas. The Cities Changing Diabetes global initiative aims to not only slow the rising tide of diabetes, but eliminate it all together. For more information about Cities Changing Diabetes, visit citieschangingdiabetes.com.

Take the CANRISK survey here.