Diabetes Education Centre

The Niagara Diabetes Centre is a regional program with three Niagara Health locations - Greater Niagara General in Niagara Site, St. Catharines Site and Welland Site - for people of all ages with diabetes.

A team of diabetes nurse educators and registered dietitians conduct ongoing education programs, counselling and follow-up sessions for patients and their families, helping them live in a healthy and safe manner.

The Niagara Diabetes Centre also has a dedicated pediatric team of physicians, nurses, social workers and dietitians committed to the specialized care of children and adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

All bookings and referrals are made through the main office at Welland Site.

Contact: 905-682-4200 or 1-800-263-2480 (toll-free)

Endocrinology Clinic

The Niagara Diabetes Centre also includes the Endocrinology Clinic, located at the Welland and St. Catharines sites. Specific service areas include; insulin kinetics, glycemic control, co-existing hormonal imbalances, systems review/dysfunctions and educational needs (management and lifestyle). The clinic accepts referrals on a consult basis to treat and counsel diabetes patients with complicated disease-management challenges.

Contact: 905-682-3399

Type 2 Diabetes

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

A healthy pancreas produces just enough insulin to keep blood sugars at normal levels.
Insulin acts as a key to open your cell doors
Sugar than enters the cells for energy
In type 2 diabetes, there is not enough insulin being made by the pancreas and/or the insulin is not being used properly. This is called insulin resistance.
This causes high blood sugars. Sugar comes from certain foods you eat and your liver.

What are the symptoms of high blood sugar?

Fatigue
Thirst
Hungry
Frequent urination
Dry mouth
Headaches
Frequent infection

What can you do?

Visit the Diabetes Centre for help from a Registered Nurse and Registered Dietitician

Engage in a healthy lifestyle:

Healthy Eating

Include a variety of grains and starches. This includes potatoes, brown rice, whole grain pasta, whole grain bread and corn.
Include one dark green and one orange vegetable daily and aim for two to three fruit each day.
Choose lean meat, chicken without the skin and fish with little or no added fat and salt. Try to have fish two times per week. Have alternatives like beans, lentils and tofu.
Include two to four servings of low fat milk and/or yogurt daily. Take 400 IU of vitamin D daily if you are over 50 years of age. Always check with your doctor.
Aim for 3 meals each day, 4 to 6 hours apart. Don’t skip meals
Choose water more often. Avoid sugary drinks like juice and regular pop
Limit simple sugars (candy, chocolate, desserts), added fat (butter, coconut oil, bacon, creamy dressings, chips), and added salt (only use small amounts during cooking, if desired), remove the salt shaker from the table and avoid processed/convenience foods.

Exercise

Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise.
Aim for 150 minutes each week of exercise that raises your heart rate. Space this out during the week e.g., 30 minutes each day. This includes walking, running, swimming, bike riding.
Don’t forget your muscles! Aim for 3 times per week, 20 minutes each. This includes light weights, resistance bands.

Now what?

By eating healthy, exercising regularly and having support from your healthcare team, you will feel better and lower your chance of developing diabetes complications.