Living Well with Diabetes
If you’re an Indigenous adult (18+) living with Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or who is at high risk for developing diabetes, you can access Diabetes Education services at SOAHAC without having a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner at SOAHAC.
Our team, which includes a Diabetes Nurse Educator, Registered Dietitian, and Chiropodist (foot care specialist), can support you in living well with diabetes. They provide information and education on things like:
- Blood sugar control
- Home blood sugar monitoring
- Medication and insulin
- Diabetes-related complications
- Foot care
- Meal planning
- Exercise
- Managing stress
We can help you prevent diabetes or diabetes complications by teaching you to manage your health care through individual counselling and our Healthy Lifestyles Workshops. We can also support your friends and family in helping you with your care.
Location Availability
Traditional Healing
How to Access this Service
Self-Referrals
To access Diabetes Education services on your own (self-referral), please fill out the application form and fax it to 1-855-DIABETS (342-2387). If you are unable to fax it, you can bring it to the SOAHAC location closest to you. If you’re a patient at SOAHAC, you can also ask to be referred to the service.
Referrals by Health Care Providers
The Coordinated Access program was developed through a partnership between the Ontario West and diabetes educators in the region with the goals of improving access to service and use of resources, streamlining referrals, and gathering valid data to maximize resources.
We use the Health Care Provider referral form to help patients access care. If you’re looking to refer a patient, complete the referral form and fax it to 1-855-DIABETS (342-2387). Don’t forget to indicate SOAHAC as a preference on the referral form by checking the box marked ‘Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre Service Preferred’ in the first section of the form. Coordinated Access will provide two faxed confirmations: first, when the referral is received, and second with the location, date and time of the first booked appointment.
Community Resources
Provides programs focusing on diabetes education, prevention, and management in Indigenous communities in Ontario, and provides educational materials.
Advocacy organization focused on funding research to find a cure and helping people with diabetes live healthier lives.
Provides educational resources.