Category: News

Meet Melanie Ashkewe, a client advisor with Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team’s Lower Limb Preservation Program, as she shares her lived experience of managing diabetes. Ashkewe grew up in Neyaashiinigmiing (formerly Cape Croker), Ontario, and is a proud member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

“Take care of your diabetes,” she advises, sharing her personal journey of overcoming the challenges of living with the condition. Through consistent diabetes management, Ashkewe found the motivation to make healthier lifestyle choices.

#diabetes #diabeteslifestyle #diabeticfootulcer #diabetesawareness #preventivecare

“A central component of primary care is preventive care,” says Dr. Michelle Hanna, a practicing family physician and advisor with Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team’s Lower Limb Preservation Program. She emphasizes that maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and achieving weight reduction are key pillars of preventive care that can significantly reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and avoid serious long-term complications, like nerve damage to the feet.

#diabetes #primarycare #preventivecare #diabeticfootulcer

Part 2 of 2

Maintaining proper foot hygiene and selecting the right footwear are key practices for keeping your feet healthy and preventing complications related to diabetes, such as foot ulcers and infections.

Teresa Salzmann, a Registered Chiropodist at Anishnawbe Health Toronto—a partner in the Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team’s Lower Limb Preservation Program—shares valuable tips on how to properly clean and care for your feet and toenails. She also provides guidance on choosing shoes that offer the right support and protection.

#diabetes #diabeticfootulcer #footcare #diabeteslifestyle #healthyfeet #prevention

Part 1 of 2

Diabetes can lead to nerve damage and poor circulation, increasing the risk of foot wounds, ulcers, and infections.

Meet Teresa Salzmann, a Registered Chiropodist at Anishnawbe Health Toronto, a partner in the Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team’s Lower Limb Preservation Program. Salzmann shares tips on what to look for during self-exams, including bruises, swelling, and open sores that may indicate the early stages of a foot wound or ulcer.

#diabetes #diabeticfootulcer #footcare #diabeteslifestyle #healthyfeet #prevention

Every day in Canada, 16 people lose a leg to diabetes,” shares Dr. Charles de Mestral, Vascular Surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, a member of the Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team (DET OHT) and a partner in DET OHT’s Lower Limb Preservation Program.

Watch Dr. de Mestral explain three essential steps that can help people with diabetes prevent foot wounds, infections, and other complications that can lead to amputation.

#diabetes #diabeteslifestyle #footcare #diabeticfootulcer #vascularhealth

We invite you to raise awareness about this important cause and to take steps towards enacting positive change in our health-care systems.

Download the communications plan and use the hashtags #SAVETHE4, #FOOTHEALTHAWARENESSMONTH, #ACTAGAINSTAMPUTATION

Access & share the Diabetes Canada infographic – Why Action is Needed to Prevent Amputations in Ontario

During the COVID-19 pandemic the health of clients and staff is our priority

(This page was last updated Dec 20, 2022)

To help you through this challenging time Toronto Diabetes Care Connect is using this page to share:

1. 1. Toronto Central Referral Service Information,
   2. Diabetes and COVID-19 Information,
   3. Healthcare Provider Resources, and
   4. Additional Resources/Initiatives.

1. Toronto Central Referral Service Information

The Toronto Central Referral Service (TCRS) is continuing to operate, forwarding referrals to the most appropriate program to meet the needs of the person at risk of or already living with diabetes.  To get connected to a program click here.

• All available programs are providing care remotely whenever possible (e.g. via phone, video, etc.) and many programs have been resuming in-person appointments.
• Please note that the organizations/programs that the TCRS connects to may be focusing on delivering essential services (e.g. they may have cancelled some services, closed some service locations, or temporarily closed programs).

If you have submitted a referral, the TCRS will communicate with you to keep you informed.

• Please call the TCRS at 416-778-0676 x 2242 if you have any questions or concerns.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic response times may be longer than normal. We thank you for your patience.

2. Diabetes and COVID-19 Information

Information for people at risk of or already living with diabetes can be found on the Diabetes Canada website.

General information about COVID-19 can be found on the following websites:

• City of Toronto
• Ontario Ministry of Health (self-assessment)
• Government of Canada

3. Healthcare Provider Resources

The following resources for healthcare providers focus specifically on supporting those with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Diabetes Specific Resources:
  • Diabetes Canada:
    • • Managing Type 2 Diabetes during COVID-19: A Guide for Primary Care Providers (Product of University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, Centre for Effective Practice, and Diabetes Canada)
      • COVID-19 specific recommendations & guidelines:
        • Temporary Alternative Screening Strategy for Gestational Diabetes
      • Recorded webinars:
        • COVID-19 and diabetes: what do we know
        • Virtual Visits for Diabetes During a Pandemic – Practical Tips and Pearls
        • Interpreting and Accessing Glucose Monitor Data
        • And many more
  • Toronto Diabetes Care Connect:
    • Slide deck and recording from April 3oth session: Supporting People with Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Other Resources:
  • Canadian Cardiovascular Society
    • Caring for cardiovascular patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

    OntarioMD:

    • Virtual Care Resources
  • University of Toronto:
    • COVID-19 recorded webinars and other resources

• Client Education Resources:
  • Diabetes Resources:
    • Client resources (Diabetes Canada)
    • COVID-19 FAQs and infographics (Diabetes Canada)
    • Managing worry about COVID-19 and diabetes (Diabetes Australia)
    • Diabetes education videos to support virtual client teaching:
      • Diabetes Canada videos
      • Banting & Best Diabetes Centre/QUEST Committee videos
  • 211 Central – Search for Community Resources & Programs
  • Food Security Support:
    • The Afri-Can FoodBasket
    • Canadian Red Cross Mobile Food Bank
    • Facebook Grassroots Initiatives:
      • The People’s Pantry
      • Good Neighbour Project
    • Good Food Box – FoodShare Emergency Food Relief Fund
    • Hand Up for Kids (Hand Up Toronto)
    • Resource List – Food Resources During COVID-19 (The 519 – March 2020)
  • Foot Care:
    • Current information to help find urgent care:
      • College of Chiropodists of Ontario
      • Ontario Society of Chiropodists (OSC)
      • Wounds Canada
  • Mental Health Support:
    • Togetherall
    • Bounce Back
    • Calm (Free mindfulness resources)
    • Good2Talk
    • Kids Help Phone
  • Ramadan:
    • Coronavirus and Social Connections During Ramadan (HATP – April 2020)

Additional resources for health care providers working in diabetes can be found on our Healthcare Provider Resource page.

4. Additional Resources/Initiatives of Interest

The following resources may be of interest to you:

• Cycling-Related Resources & Services Available During COVID-19 (Toronto Community Bike Collective)

Diabetes Canada releases clinical practice guidelines every 5 years. Visit Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines website to access the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Management & Prevention in Canada as well as a number of informative videos and useful tools for healthcare providers can be found on the . 

Toronto Diabetes Care Connect has released the following report: Insulin Competency Development: A Report of the Insulin Standards Working Group (Toronto Central LHIN Region). This report includes a comprehensive summary of the work of the Insulin Standards Working Group (2013 – 2017) and a number of recommendations regarding insulin competency development.