Your Diabetes Team

Aileen Knip, Nurse Educator, Certified Diabetes Educator

Patricia Baker, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator

Elaine Clarke, Diabetes Administrative Program Assistant

Any adult person diagnosed with pre-diabetes or Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is able to access the diabetes program at the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre.

To obtain an individual appointment for diabetes counseling, please refer to the diabetes education referral form (PDF format). If you wish to self refer to the diabetes program, please contact Aileen Knip, Nurse Educator, Certified Diabetes Educator or Patricia Baker, Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator directly at 519-238-1556 Ext. 226 or 235.

Group Education for the prevention or management for diabetes is available. Please contact Aileen Knip RN, CDE or Patricia Baker RD, CDE directly for more information.

Diabetes is now recognized as a public health problem of potentially enormous proportions. Approximately 2 million Canadians have diabetes. There are approximately 60,000 new cases of diabetes diagnosed in Canada every year. Nearly half of all individuals with diabetes are over 65 years of age, and current projections suggest that this number will only continue to increase. The burden of diabetes due to health care costs, disability and premature death is estimated to be about $9 billion annually. These statistics tell us that not only do we need to manage and treat diabetes; we also need to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

The Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre offers a full time diabetes education and management program. The program is comprised of a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Registered Nurse, Certified Diabetes Educator. In our program, you will learn:

• How to manage nutrition for all occasions
  
• Manage diabetes medications and/or insulin
  
• How to test blood sugars and what the results mean
  
• The value of activity
  
• How to prevent or delay complications
  
• Get support and counseling

Education and management is a vital part of your good health. Get involved in your diabetes care by seeing the Diabetes Educators at the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre. For more diabetes information, please also visit the Canadian Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.ca

Please Note: To obtain an individual appointment for Diabetes counselling, it is necessary to have a referral form completed by your physician. Diabetes Education Referral Form (PDF Format)