The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) website (www.diabetes.ca) is an excellent source of diabetes information for physicians, patients, and family members. The CDA has its roots in Diabetic Association of Ontario, founded in the late 1940s by Charles Best, a research assistant of Sir Frederick Banting, M.D. and one of the co-discoverers of insulin. In 1953 the regional diabetic association of Canada combined to form the Canadian Diabetes Association.
www.diabetes.ca – Diabetes Healthy Living Resource
The mission of the CDA is to provide educational materials and services to patients and doctors, advocate on behalf of diabetes patients, support research, and practically apply new research. The CDA has several campaigns to actively support those living with diabetes and address pre-diabetes risks and screening. The goal of the public awareness campaign is to have all Canadians over the age of 40 get checked for type 2 diabetes. Visit www.diabetes.ca and click on “Get Checked” to find a testing location near you.
One of the greatest tools offered by www.diabetes.ca is the Diabetes Education Centre search tool, allowing Canadians to find the nearest education center using their postal code or address. Another tool on www.diabetes.ca is their Healthy Living Series, an interactive guide available in French and English. General information on diabetes is also available as well as nutrition advice and a special section for youth.
Supporting Diabetes Research – www.diabetes.ca
The Canadian Diabetes Association has several ways for individuals to become involved in diabetes research and prevention. Individuals, families, and groups can sign up to walk, run, or bike with Team Diabetes. The events are meant as fundraising opportunities as well as a healthy way for people to come together and do something good for their health as well. The advantage to fundraising sport events is the access to new donors who may not otherwise be aware of the severity of diabetes and how many people is affects. Team Diabetes has both national and international events with the opportunity to participate in marathons in the Cayman Islands and Iceland. There is a $100 registration fee for events as well as fundraising minimums (price varies per event). In return participants are given expert training in order to successfully and healthily complete their events as well as gear, fundraising support, newsletters, dinners, and other social events.
In addition to their sporting events the CDA has the Clothesline® program, accepting donations of used clothing, small household items, and electronics in order to be entered in a drawing for a raffle prize. Working with the Think Recycle™ program and Greentec, Clothesline® responsibly recycles items reducing CO2 emissions by 115 million kilograms while raising money for diabetes care and research.
