Let’s Make Time – Act Today to Change Tomorrow
December 18, 2024
By Sarmini Subramaniam RN and Ruchika Wadhwa RD
Introduction of World Diabetes Day
November is observed as Diabetes Awareness month with Nov 14 being World Diabetes Day (WDD). WDD marks the birthday of our very own Canadian pride Fredrick Banting who made ground-breaking discovery of insulin alongside Charles Best in 1922.
Amidst a concern for the escalating diabetes epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Prevention (IDF) jointly introduced WDD in 1991 with a blue circle being the logo.
Throughout November, campaigns are conducted globally engaging people in spreading the message about diabetes prevention, awareness of the disease and advocacy.
Did you know?
The rates of diabetes in Scarborough are amongst the highest at 12.45 per 100 as compared to the average 9.64 per 100 in Ontario. The rate is 30% higher than the general population.
In fact, 29 out of 30 Scarborough neighbourhoods are above the City of Toronto average for rates of diabetes.
Among Ontarians
• 31% live with diabetes or prediabetes, and
• 11% live with diagnosed diabetes, which increases to 15% when cases of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes are included.
Ontarians with diabetes account for 70% amputations, 51% new dialysis and 43% heart failure. This has a priceless impact on the quality of life for those living with diabetes and their caregivers and healthcare system.
Scarborough Community Diabetes Program Event
To raise awareness, on Nov 14, 2024, Scarborough Community Diabetes Program organized an eventful afternoon on Diabetes Prevention & Management. This free event was a tremendous success with over 80 Scarborough residents and community members attending it.
We had a number of activities including a presentation by Maxine, MSW on ‘The health and well-being life lessons learned ‘focusing on the importance of lifestyle management. She did this by sharing her lived experience. She demonstrated some exercises that can be done at home. She also conducted a small meditation and yoga practice at the end of her presentation.
There were games and raffle prizes that the audience loved. We had some vendors at the event that were able to share how they can help the clients manage their diabetes. The event ended with line dancing by a group of seniors that had the audience engaging and smiling, with the youngest participant being 87 years old. We also had a flu vaccine set up and this was a great success. Many clients got their flu shot and were happy this was available at the event.
These types of events are significant for many reasons. These events hold great significance for several reasons. They keep our clients engaged in the community and raise awareness about diabetes prevention and management. Additionally, they provide an opportunity for community members to access our programs and other resources they may find helpful. Furthermore, these events create a supportive environment where participants can meet others who are living with diabetes.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Outreach
As a team, we serve a diverse community population, but our goal is to expand our reach and provide access to all those affected by diabetes.
We are proud of the work that we do but we recognize that we have lot more to do.
Let’s Make Time – Act Today to Change Tomorrow
If you want to connect with the diabetes services, please contact 416-847-4134