Pre-diabetes workshop at Nipissing
Nipissing University is hosting a pre-diabetes workshop on Tuesday, January 31, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The workshop will include hands-on training in the screening and identification of those at high risk for pre-diabetes (including instructions in finger-prick HbA1C testing), considerations for community based pre-diabetes interventions, and culturally-specific approaches to diabetes prevention. It is geared towards exercise and health professionals, but is open to all interested faculty, staff, students and members of the community. The cost for the workshop is $35.00 + HST ($39.55 total) and participants may register at the Ontario Society for Health and Fitness website (www.oshf.ca), by completing and mailing the attached registration form, or by phoning the OSHF directly at (877) 651-3755 x222.
The workshop is being offered in conjunction with York University and the Ontario Society for Health and Fitness (OSHF).
Background information regarding pre-diabetes:
In Canada, there has been a consistent rise in the incidence of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes over the last decade. Both of these conditions are largely preventable and both can be reduced by physical activity participation. It is estimated that more than two million Canadians (~7%) have diabetes, mostly type 2 diabetes, but only about half of these individuals have been diagnosed (http://www.diabetes.ca/). A 2005 report completed by the City of North Bay indicated that our regional demographic suffers disproportionately from poor health and physical inactivity, e.g. in comparison to standard provincial rates, citizens in North Bay have a higher rate of diabetes (8.0% vs. provincial rate 4.8%). The percentage of Canadians with pre-diabetes is estimated at another 5-7% of the population. New Canadians and First Nation peoples who generally live in concentrated communities are at particular risk of having pre-diabetes and for developing type 2 diabetes. By the end of this decade, the number of Canadians with diabetes is expected to rise to three million. The national cost for obesity is estimated to be $4.3 billion ($1.6 billion of direct costs and $2.7 billion of indirect costs). Diabetes and its complications cost the Canadian health care system an estimated $13.2 billion every year, a value that is projected to exceed $19.2 billion a year by 2020. (http://www.diabetes.ca/files/PrevalenceandCost.pdf)
At present, there are no outreach programs in place in Ontario that either detect (screen for) or treat persons who are pre-diabetic and at considerable risk for developing type 2 diabetes. These persons are only identified and treated when they have progressed to, and are diagnosed with, type 2 diabetes. Although there is considerable evidence indicating that regular physical activity is likely the most powerful deterrent for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, little opportunity exists in communities to provide physical activity intervention for those at the greatest risk. This may be because qualified exercise professionals are not working effectively with Public Health Units and Community Health Centres to deliver physical activity interventions and, in particular, culturally-preferred physical activity interventions.