SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A new diabetes workshop offered by the Department of Health and Social Services aims to put diabetics and health care workers on the same page.

Starting at the end of January, workshops will be offered in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Norman Wells, as well as Fort Simpson for both groups.

The workshops are part of the Aboriginal Diabetes Capacity Building Project that was approved by Health Canada last July. The total amount of funding for the project through 2010/11 is $483,645.71.

"People who are living with diabetes will become more aware as they are learning to better manage their condition while the health care providers are obtaining the same information," said Vicki Lafferty, manager of health systems planning for the Department of Health and Social Services.

The percentage of the total Canadian population with diabetes has increased to 7.3 per cent in 2010 from 4.2 per cent in 2000, and could increase further to 9.9 per cent by 2020, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Lafferty said it is rare for a health workshop to have both clients and health care workers as participants.

"I think it's innovative, we haven't really tried this before," said Lafferty. "We don't know yet the mix of how many community people with the health care providers (will be) but we think that there is value in it."

Lafferty will be on the project's steering committee along with Lori Oake, a health planner, as well as Mabel Wong, health promotion specialist, both with Health and Social Services.

Wong was the dietitian for the diabetes education program at the Stanton Medical Clinic.

Lafferty said Wong's experience translating medical terminology and health practices into a simple terms to help people understand how to control their diabetes will be valuable.

"We're very lucky to have Mabel Wong at the department, she has a long history in diabetes care and treatment," said Lafferty. "She's now working in health promotion. Although she's taking on a different role we're able to capitalize on her experience in the area."

During her presentation Wong encouraged participants at the conference to play the "Wheel of Health" while answering questions about diabetes. She also illustrated good and bad blood sugar levels with a can of tomatoes versus a bottle of ketchup.

"We need to give people a bit more of hands-on support in terms of learning how to better manage client conditions and this is one very practical way of doing this," said Lafferty.

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