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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Keeping physically active is a key to maintaining good health.

For some, this might require lifestyle changes - particularly for those with diabetic conditions, which already require close attention.

Keeping an active routine can greatly improve diabetics' health, but reaching this is half the challenge, according to Jinette Boudreau.

"Nothing is going to happen overnight," said Boudreau, a kinesiologist and personal trainer in Yellowknife. "It's something you have to keep working on. We have a tendency to put others first."

Boudreau worked with a group of eight participants at the Keep Fit Club on a pilot project by the Diabetes Education Program.

The purpose of the program was to introduce people who live with diabetes or pre-diabetes to organized physical activity, according to Mabel Wong, a dietician educator with the Stanton Health Authority who works with the Diabetes Education Program.

"We also wanted to see if physical activity equalling 90 minutes a week would make any difference to their blood pressure and weight," said Wong. "It's a complex disease and it's been shown in research that if you have a model of care that involves multi-disciplines that the people who live with diabetes are more likely to engage in self-care. It's part of our new practice guidelines."

Cathy Schauerte was diagnosed with diabetes in April 2008 and participated in the Keep Fit Program.

"I believe in exercise and changing your habits," she said. "Commitment to exercise is going to help you be a healthier person in the long run and I was trying to reduce my blood sugars."

Boudreau said the six-week program combined diet and regular physical activity to give those dealing with diabetes in their life a chance to make changes to their lifestyle.

"For those who came regularly it was phenomenal," Boudreau said, speaking of the results. "The last fitness test showed everyone had improved. They were stronger in every component of the test. Some clients' blood-sugar levels had dropped quite a bit."

Participants started the program with a fitness test which consisted of measurements, an aerobics fitness test, partial curl ups, grip strength, push-ups, vertical jump, sit and reach, back extension and blood pressure and heart rate.

"It was to gauge force, strength, flexibility and endurance," Boudreau said. "The final test was to see how much they had improved.

"We met once a week every Saturday for an hour and they were committed to come and see me but they were also responsible to go on their own and do stuff I had taught them. I showed them how to use cardio machines and also showed them how to use the basic fitness equipment down at the racquet club."

Funding for the program was provided by the federal government through the Canadian diabetes strategy, which established diabetes prevention and control strategies across the country.

Schauerte said some days were challenging.

"One of the challenges was not wanting to participate some days because you're tired," she said. "You need to dedicate yourself to it to become healthy. After you completed your workout plan you'd feel great even when you didn't want to be there in the beginning."

Boudreau said it was her goal to make living a healthy lifestyle an easier and more enjoyable transition.

"I wanted to encourage people to become physically active as a lifestyle," she said. "I wanted them to enjoy what they were doing because if they aren't enjoying it the chances of them coming back to the gym and being active towards trying to change their lifestyle is next to none."

Wong said the final results couldn't be grouped into an overall perspective, but "results were very individual," she said. "Some people lost weight and some had much improved blood pressure. The participants said they enjoyed being together and learned from each other.

"This was a project to show that partnerships in diabetes management in the community are important."