 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Fighting back against diabetes
Diabetes is on the rise in Deh Cho, and so is programming for those at risk
Roxanna Thompson
"People know it's out there, but it's still kind of a big, scary, bad thing," she said, "Being diabetic herself, Simpson knows that's not the case. "I've started taking better care of myself since I'm a diabetic. It's a blessing in disguise," she said. Since April, Deh Cho Health and Social Services has been developing a multi-faceted program to help those in the region with diabetes, and to help prevent those at risk from developing it. Their goal is to have information booths in Fort Liard, Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, Trout Lake, Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson twice a year, as well as presentations and diabetic cooking classes in Fort Liard, Wrigley and Fort Simpson once a month. In addition, staff will be visiting all the schools in the region to educate students on what diabetes is, what it's like to live with it and ways they can prevent it. Simpson, who has worked in the North for 22 years and in Fort Simpson for five, said it's important to get this information out there before more people develop the disease. "It used to be you'd have one or two older people that were diabetic in the community," she said of her early days working North of 60. "Since I've been here (in Fort Simpson) it seems like every few months you have a new person to add to your list, and diabetes is not fussy about who it hits. It can be anybody. It can be young adults; it can be older people; it can be aboriginal; it can be non-aboriginal." She estimates there are about 70 people in Fort Simpson living with diabetes, and 90 people in the surrounding communities. "If people can do healthy exercise and healthy eating, we can delay the onset of diabetes," she said. "We may not be able to totally prevent it, but we can slow it down and make it not so much of a disaster." One of the unique aspects of the health authority's program is its diabetic cooking class, which is open to diabetics, their families and people at risk of developing diabetes. Last week in Fort Simpson participants made baked apples, chocolate cake and cranberry-zucchini-carrot-orange muffins. All of the recipes were a hit, according to Simpson.
|
