Diabetes Prevention and Promotion Projects Funded in 2007-2010

Living Healthy: Education and prevention of type 2 diabetes among immigrant families

Calgary Immigrant Women's Association

The goal of the project is to increase the capacity of immigrant women in Calgary to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent or delay diabetes, and in turn influence the health of their families. Project activities include educational sessions about type 2 diabetes, grocery tours and skill building sessions to prepare healthy, culturally appropriate meals. Through a partnership with the YMCA, participants and their families will also gain increased access to physical activity opportunities. The women will take an active role in planning and implementing all phases of the project.

Diabetes & Living in Poverty: Decreasing barriers to prevention and treatment options

Calgary Urban Project Society

The goal of the project is to increase prevention and treatment options for people who are homeless or living in poverty in Calgary that are at higher risk for diabetes or have been diagnosed with the disease. Project activities include: recruiting current clients who are at risk or who have diabetes; completing focus groups and questionnaires with these clients to identify barriers and solutions to prevention and treatment amongst this population; and integrating these solutions into existing services to develop a new diabetes prevention and management model that more effectively meets these needs. Education sessions about diabetes will also be offered to participants and staff.

Local Community Dissemination for the Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System

Institute of Health Economics

The goal of the project is to enhance knowledge translation and exchange of Alberta diabetes surveillance data to decision-makers, health care providers, primary care networks, researchers, community-based organizations and the general public. Project activities include planning and delivering tailored, interactive presentations to Alberta health regions about the Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System and the Alberta Diabetes Atlas 2007; and designing and constructing an interactive Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System website that will include diabetes trends in specific geographic areas, facts about diabetes and its complications, and teaching resources.

Phase Two: Local Dissemination of the Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System

Institute of Health Economics

Phase one of this project provided support to the Alberta Diabetes Atlas 2007 and resulted in strong uptake by communities. Phase two proposes to support the Alberta Diabetes Atlas 2009, which now includes new information in the areas of gestational diabetes and diabetes in under 20 populations. The Institute of Health Economics will work in collaboration with Alberta Health and Wellness, the Canadian Diabetes Association, Alberta Regional Health Authorities/Health Zones, and Primary Care Networks. It is expected that new partnerships will develop and service and program improvements in the new areas of focus, namely gestational diabetes and populations under 20 will occur. Additional expected outcomes of this project include a more interactive Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System website that will make it easier for its users to access local diabetes data and an Alberta Diabetes 2009 Fact Sheet that will include quick facts from the Alberta Diabetes Atlas 2009.