Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Successful Pilot Project Leads To Expanded Exercise Program Across Champlain Region For Those Living With, Or At Risk For Diabetes
A successful pilot project has led to the creation of an expanded exercise program across the Champlain Region for those living with, or at risk for diabetes.
Renfrew County Diabetes Education Coordinator Karen Roosen said the pilot project, which ran from December 1, 2011 to April 1, 2012, involved a partnership between the diabetes outreach team of the Renfrew County Diabetes Education Program (RCDEP) which is a regional program administered by the Pembroke Regional Hospital, the Ottawa Heart Institute (OHI), the Diabetes Regional Coordination Centre (DRCC) and three Heart Wise Exercise sites in Renfrew County (Best Western Fitness Centre in Pembroke, Pikwakanagan Fitness Centre in Golden Lake and Fun, Fit & Fully Alive at the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC) in Beachburg).
Key objectives of the project were to:
- provide a safe environment for clients with diabetes and/or prediabetes to exercise
- motivate clients with diabetes and/or prediabetes to integrate exercise into daily routine
- increase the number of diabetes clients participating in exercise programs
- increase awareness of diabetes prevention and management through enhanced physical activity
To facilitate this, the diabetes outreach team conducted training sessions with staff and participants and worked closely with the exercise sites to ensure that both received the appropriate support, education and counselling related to their diabetes and exercise program.
Mrs. Roosen managed and coordinated the pilot project, the partner sites provided the space, exercise program and data collection, the OHI oversaw the Heart Wise certification of the sites and lent their expertise to the program and evaluation, and the DRCC assisted with pilot materials and analysis of the evaluation data.
“Overall, the project was very helpful in demonstrating the benefits of participation in a structured exercise program for those living with, or at risk for diabetes, as well as assessing the comfort level of the trainers who hosted those with diabetes in their classes,” Mrs. Roosen said.
In addition, she said the timing of the project couldn’t have been better because it coincided with the publication of best practice guidelines by the Canadian Diabetes Association which had strong messaging around the need for regular exercise, including the recommendation that diabetics be involved in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity spread over a period of three days per week and that they also include resistance exercise as part of their regime a minimum of three times per week.
In reviewing results of the project, diabetes educators revealed a low number of referrals were made to the exercise programs due to location and due to program fees, noting that Renfrew County has the largest geographic spread and encompasses 42% of Champlain’s total area. The three pilot sites involved in the pilot were located within a 50 km radius which limited access for many clients in Renfrew County.
That’s why, based on these findings, recommendations included expanding to additional Heart Wise sites across the county, integrating diabetes and stroke training across the sites, incorporating physical activity sessions into diabetes outreach events and identifying opportunities to implement year-round programs at no cost such as walking programs.
Since then, a lot has happened. Mrs. Roosen said Heart Wise training for fitness instructors across Champlain now includes specific information and a tool kit on diabetes along with training for stroke and cardiac care.
In addition, all diabetes educators across the Champlain region have received the new exercise guidelines and best practices.
“The Renfrew County Diabetes Education Program appreciates the importance of continued partnerships with the DRCC, OHI and exercise sites, which is key to the success of improving physical activity and creating a healthier lifestyle for residents living with diabetes and/or at risk of developing diabetes,” Mrs. Roosen said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Karen Roosen, Diabetes Education Coordinator
Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675 ext. 6530 / karen.roosen@pemreghos.org
|