Staying at a healthy weight has been an ongoing challenge for Gwen Steeves, a nurse in Moncton, N.B. But when she was diagnosed two years ago with type 2 diabetes, she knew this was a challenge she seriously needed to overcome.
"In my family, if you're happy, you eat; if you're unhappy, you eat," she says. "And if your house catches on fire and your neighbour takes you in, the first thing you do is eat. It's hard to break that cycle."
When Ms. Steeves heard about a new program, called Live Well! Bien Vivre!, that uses a community approach to possibly prevent and manage type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes, she decided to give it a try. Today, about eight months after she first met with her Live Well! Bien Vivre! health coach, she's starting to lose weight and take control of her eating habits. Her blood glucose (sugar) levels have subsequently improved.
Living a healthy lifestyle is important for anyone. For people living with diabetes, it's one of the many important factors to living well. To minimize the impact of the disease on their daily lives and prevent serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and limb amputations, they need to follow a regimen that includes proper nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction and medication.
Sticking to this regimen can be challenging, says Lisa Matte, regional director for the Maritimes at the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).
"Diabetes is a chronic disease that has to be managed and dealt with all day, every day for the rest of your life," she says. "The challenge is that most individuals with diabetes will meet with their health-care professionals maybe four or five times a year. The rest of the year they're on their own."
"I'm fighting for all people with diabetes who are struggling to change their lifestyle, because I believe we all deserve to be healthy." Gwen Steeves is a nurse in Moncton, N.B.
Last November, the CDA partnered with the New Brunswick Department of Health and Medavie Health Foundation to launch Live Well! Bien Vivre! in New Brunswick. Based on the health coach model in the United Kingdom, Live Well! Bien Vivre! is designed to give people with, or at risk of developing, type 2 diabetes support right in their community.
Clients who sign up to Live Well! Bien Vivre! get access to a health coach who will work with them one-on-one to assess their needs and help them create an action plan based on their unique needs. The program also provides risk assessment clinics for type 2 diabetes, education sessions on diabetes prevention and management, six-week kitchen-style programs that teach clients how to prepare healthy meals, and a phone-based peer support program.
Patty Faith, director of the Medavie Health Foundation, which supports causes related to type 2 diabetes and child and youth mental health, notes that an important aspect of the Live Well! Bien Vivre! program is the close monitoring and support provided by the health coaches.
The coaches meet where it's most convenient for their clients. Ms. Steeves, for example, meets her health coach at nearby grocery stores and coffee shops, and in the lobby of the hospital where she works. For the first two months, they met once a week before tapering off to once every three weeks.
Live Well! Bien Vivre! clients are in the program because they want to be, not because they've been compelled by someone else, says Ms. Faith, whose organization is funded by Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie EMS.
"Live Well! Bien Vivre! was designed as a self-referral program, because people need to be ready for it," she says. "In order to succeed in making the lifestyle changes you need to better manage your diabetes and reduce your risk of developing serious complications, you have to be ready."
Live Well! Bien Vivre! started operating in January with six health coaches. To date, says Ms. Faith, about 120 people have signed up. "The hope," says Ms. Faith, "is that the program can be replicated in other regions."
"Ultimately, it's up to each individual to ensure they're doing what they need to do to manage their diabetes," she says. "But it's hard to do it alone, and this program gives people that extra support, right in their community."
For more information about programs and services available in your area, visit diabetes.ca, email info@diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).