Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin

Diabetes Program

The purpose of the Weeneebayko Diabetes Health Program (WDHP) is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to diabetes care in the Mushkegowuk Region focusing on awareness, prevention, treatment and education. The Diabetes team visits the coastal communities of Attawapiskat, Peawanuck, Kashechewan and Fort Albany on a regular basis. Moosonee client services are provided by a part-time RN educator with the RD traveling to Moosonee to provide ongoing services.

The team consists of a coordinator, one full time and one part time nurse, a receptionist and a family physician who works with the diabetes team Tuesday mornings at the Moosonee Health Centre in Moosonee and Wednesday mornings at the Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory. The Weeneebayko Diabetes Health Program is a member of the Northern Diabetes Health Network.

Brief History

Previously known as the Omushkego Diabetes Program, the program became known as the Weeneebayko Diabetes Health Program (WDHP) in 1998. Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin is the host agency for the WDHP and is based out of Weeneebayko General Hospital and provides services to the Mushkegowuk region through regular scheduled community visits. Funding is provided by the Northern Diabetes Health Network (NDHN). The NDHN is an agency set up by the Ontario Ministry of Health and is responsible for funding and overseeing the 38 diabetes programs that are in service in Northern Ontario.

Mission Statement

To provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to diabetes care in the Mushkegowuk Region which focuses on awareness, prevention, treatment and education.

Program Objectives

To promote the well being of clients by providing quality diabetes education; to assist people living with diabetes through consistent and continuing education; to ensure clients with diabetes have access to diabetes education and treatment; to assist clients with diabetes in receiving specialty services (chiropody/ophthalmology); to assist families of diabetic clients to understand and assist with the management of the client living with diabetes; to establish and maintain communication links between health care providers; to reduce the incidence of diabetes through diabetes awareness and promotion of lifestyle changes; to effect the number of communications in the clients with diabetes and decrease the readmissions to health care facilities; to increase the knowledge of diabetes and its complications for First Nations’ clients with diabetes; to develop a consistent culturally appropriate teaching plan; to conduct an ongoing evaluation of the process to determine the effectiveness of the program and to revise and implement existing policies and procedures that govern the program.

Types of Services Provided

Education through individual appointments, school visits, workshops, guest presenters and group support (diabetes support group).

Prevention through individual appointments (IFG and IGT), school teaching, diabetes screening (glucose testing), diabetes awareness days (northern), follow up care and community presentations.

Support through home visits, diabetes community support groups, grocery shopping tours, diabetes month activities, individual and group counseling and community presentations.

Counseling services are provided for diabetes clients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity and renal disease. Patients are educated on medications, self-monitoring, nutrition, lifestyle changes as well as other self management topics. Counseling services are also provided for clients with Gestational Diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose.

Chiropodist services are contracted by the WDHP to all communities within the Mushkegowuk Region and are coordinated by the WDHP.

Referrals for diabetes education and chiropodist for all communities can be sent to the Diabetes Program. Referral forms can be found in each department and coastal community. Referred clients are given 3 opportunities to attend a scheduled appointment, if they do not attend; they are then discharged from the Diabetes Program. The referral is return to the family physician and the client is informed by letter.