91亚色's Health Leadership & Learning Network has partnered with the Black Creek Community Health聽Centre and the to bring members of the community together for the Diabetes: Perspectives for Action聽鈥� Community Forum on Nov. 11, from 6 to 8pm at Westview Centennial Secondary School, 755 Oakdale Rd., North 91亚色.

Right: Maps of Toronto show the overlap between聽the areas聽of low income, visible minorities and the incidence of diabetes. Click maps to see interactive version. Courtesy of the Toronto Star

The聽forum will聽discuss the increasing incidence of Type 2 diabetes in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, strategies to prevent it and community resources to improve the health of people living with the disease.

Income inequality is on the rise in Canada along with a parallel increase in diabetes mortality, especially in low-income neighbourhoods such as Jane-Finch, according to a recent 91亚色 study that has been published online and will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Health Policy.

Dennis Raphael, a professor in the School of Health Policy & Management at 91亚色 and a co-author of the study, says it clearly shows that low income is associated with a higher risk of developing the disease, even when other risk factors such as obesity are taken into account. Separate maps of Toronto that show areas of low income, visible minorities and the incidence of diabetes clearly show the overlap between the three, says Raphael, who will speak first at the event.

Three representatives of the Black Creek Community Health Centre will speak about their work in the community. Community health worker Michelle Westin will discuss her experiences helping residents to identify and address issues related to diabetes prevention and management. Lisa Martin, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, will speak about the importance of access to adequate resources in managing diabetes, as well as healthy lifestyle choices. Carla Da Mota, a diabetes nurse educator who has witnessed an increase in both the number of clients with diabetes and complications they experience due to poorly managed diabetes, will talk about her experiences in promoting prevention and management of the disease through education.

Professor Lesley Beagrie, associate dean, professional & global programs in 91亚色's Faculty of Health, will moderate the panel.

The Toronto District School Board has recently launched a Diabetes Awareness Strategy. Annie Appleby, superintendent of education for Ward 1 in the northwest part of Toronto 鈥� where the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes is at eight per cent 鈥撀爓ill speak about the schools' efforts to promote healthy choices and change the behaviours of staff, students, and even families.

For more information, visit the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

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The task force is charged with consulting Canadians from across the country to inform a national strategy, and Neil Britto, Adnan Raja and Justin Yan 鈥� undergraduate student researchers working with Professor Brenda Spotton Visano on the 91亚色 Community Finance Project 鈥� thought it was an ideal opportunity to share their own research findings and expertise.

Above: From left, Adnan Raja, Professor Brenda Spotton Visano, Neil Britto and Justin Yan

The students presented on the importance and role self-assessment resources can play in improving financial literacy. It鈥檚 a topic they know a lot about 鈥撀爐hey鈥檝e been working on a self-assessment tool that aims to improve financial literacy in the Black Creek community and in under-resourced urban communities beyond.

As Britto noted, self-assessment tools provide the opportunity to examine one鈥檚 own ability. Typically, they consist of a set of questions categorized by a specific topic or situation. In terms of financial literacy, he said that self-assessment tools often appear in the form of a questionnaire or a workbook. The one they鈥檝e been developing is an online questionnaire that is intuitive enough to provide customized, educational feedback and links to further resources.

鈥淪elf-assessment is an important component to improving financial literacy because it allows individuals to acquire a greater understanding of what it is they do know and what it is they need to know,鈥澛爏aid Britto. 鈥淲hen structured effectively, self-assessment resources can help individuals to tap into their personal financial goals and to acquire a better sense of what they need to make more informed financial choices.鈥�

One of the primary goals the students have is to take their research findings and the online tool and bring them out into the community. Presenting to the task force seemed like an ideal opportunity to speak directly to a group who has the capacity to influence policy. It was also a chance for them to provide input around the issue of how communities can be better linked and equipped with financial education resources and infrastructure.

鈥淭he students鈥� presentation was exceptionally well-delivered and well-received by the task force committee members,鈥� said Spotton Visano. 鈥淭hey took a high-level interest in what the students had to say and seemed genuinely interested in the ideas that were presented.鈥�

Raja said the experience was a great opportunity to take stock of the research they鈥檝e done thus far and to see how academic research, when applied, can make a significant impact. Yan couldn鈥檛 agree more. 鈥淚t reinforced the importance of communicating the research done in universities to those who can effect greater change,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was an honour to be given the chance to apply our own work towards policy decisions that may help to shape financial education initiatives in the near future.鈥�

The task force will release its national strategy to the public in late 2010. For more information on the students鈥� presentation, e-mail spotton@yorku.ca.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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A team of researchers from the Physical Activity聽& Chronic Disease Unit in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health is working on a new research project investigating ways to prevent this disease and its complications from developing. The Pre-diabetes Detection聽& Physical Activity Intervention Delivery Project (PRE-PAID) is examining the effectiveness of community-based interventions on the prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

They are looking for Chinese, South Asian, African and African-Caribbean people who have pre-diabetes by screening members of these high-risk populations. 91亚色 community members who are of these ethnicities are encouraged to take part in the project.

The project, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is now working with the Black Creek Community Health Centre and other community organizations to recruit Chinese, South Asian, African and African-Caribbean people who are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes based on their age (40 to 64 years old), risk factors (family history and weight) and a lack of physical activity.

Half of these people will take part in a six-month, supervised exercise program (free of charge) that will include a variety of fun activities, including dance activities such as socacize, Bollywood, line dancing and other physical activities. The other half of the participants will take part in a six-week educational workshop that provides hands-on instruction for diabetes prevention, including information about diet and physical activity education.

The goal of the program is to prevent people who are pre-diabetic from developing Type 2 diabetes. Previous research has shown that regular exercise and diet are the most effective ways to reduce Type 2 diabetes risk.

If successful, this program will lead to many more similar programs in other communities and prove that聽community-based interventions are possible and effective in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

The PRE-PAID team will be hosting pre-diabetes screening sessions every Monday morning on the Keele campus, from 7:45 to 11am, in 120 Norman Bethune College. Screening sessions will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

If you fit the above risk profile and are interested in becoming a participant in the project, contact Chip Rowan, PRE-PAID project coordinator, at 647-378-6777 or stopdiab@yorku.ca.

For more information, please visit the Diabetes Prevention Program Web site.

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In Canada, the Chinese, South Asian, African and African-Caribbean populations have a very high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, leg amputation and kidney failure in Canada.

A team of researchers from the Physical Activity聽& Chronic Disease Unit in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health is working on a new research project investigating ways to prevent this disease and its complications from developing. The Pre-diabetes Detection聽& Physical Activity Intervention Delivery Project (PRE-PAID) is examining the effectiveness of community-based interventions on the prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

They are looking for Chinese, South Asian, African and African-Caribbean people who have pre-diabetes by screening members of these high-risk populations. 91亚色 community members who are of these ethnicities are encouraged to take part in the project.

The project, funded by the and the , is now working with the and other community organizations to recruit Chinese, South Asian, African and African-Caribbean people who are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes based on their age (40 to 64 years old), risk factors (family history and weight) and a lack of physical activity.

Half of these people will take part in a six-month, supervised exercise program (free of charge) that will include a variety of fun activities, including dance activities such as socacize, Bollywood, line dancing and other physical activities. The other half of the participants will take part in a six-week educational workshop that provides hands-on instruction for diabetes prevention, including information about diet and physical activity education.

The goal of the program is to prevent people who are pre-diabetic from developing Type 2 diabetes. Previous research has shown that regular exercise and diet are the most effective ways to reduce Type 2 diabetes risk.

If successful, this program will lead to many more similar programs in other communities and prove that聽community-based interventions are possible and effective in the prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

The PRE-PAID team will be hosting pre-diabetes screening sessions every Monday morning on the Keele campus, from 7:45 to 11am, in 120 Norman Bethune College. Screening sessions will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

If you fit the above risk profile and are interested in becoming a participant in the project, contact Chip Rowan, PRE-PAID project coordinator, at 647-378-6777 or stopdiab@yorku.ca.

For more information, please visit the Diabetes Prevention Program Web site.

Republished with files courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post 91亚色's Diabetes Prevention Program seeks volunteers for a new study appeared first on Research & Innovation.