Diabetes Education

There are four main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 (body does not make any insulin)
• Type 2 (body does not make enough insulin or doesn't use it well enough)
• Gestational (body does not make enough insulin during pregnancy)
• Pre-diabetes (blood sugars are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes)

More than nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Many don't even know they have it. Chances are diabetes affects you or someone you know. No matter what type of diabetes you have, the educators at the Diabetes Education Centre will help you make good choices as you manage your diabetes and prevent or delay complications.

Our team of nurses, dietitians, endocrinologists and social worker provide:

• Individual assessments
• Follow-up appointments
• Education and support
• Group classes on a variety of topics (e.g. cooking classes)

Service Languages

• English
• French
• Cantonese
• Mandarin
• Hindi
• Punjabi
• Urdu
• Italian
• Spanish
• Farsi
• Russian

Diabetes Education Centre Hours

Monday 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Visits and parking are free.

How do you book an appointment at the Diabetes Education Centre?

Physicians can refer patients by faxing a referral found on the Referral and Consent Forms section of our website.

Patients can self-refer by calling 905-883-2211 or printing and faxing the Central LHIN Diabetes Education Program Self-Referral Form.

How do I complete a pre-visit questionnaire?

Questionnaires can be accessed in MyChart through the Health Tab then clicking on Questionnaires. Here you will see a list of questionnaires to be completed along with their due dates, which is typically the date of your upcoming appointment.

How can our team help you?

The Diabetes Education Centre is for adults with diabetes or pre-diabetes. We are here to help you and can provide education, expertise and support as you manage your diabetes.

What to Bring?

At your appointment, please have the following with you: 

• Health Card
• Current medications, vitamins and any herbal remedies (in their original containers)
• List of what you ate and drank for a full three days
• Blood glucose meter and any records of your blood sugars (if you test your blood sugars)
• Your doctor's insulin order (if you are starting insulin)

What Will I Learn?

Some of the topics the nurse and dietitian can talk to you about are:

• How to monitor your blood sugar
• Ways to manage your blood sugar
• Healthy eating
• Eating in special situations
• How your diabetes medications work
• Strategies for coping with stress
• Pregnancy
• How to manage your diabetes during stress, illness and travel
• Insulin pump therapy
• Continuous and flash glucose monitoring
• Available financial supports

If you sign up for MyChart, you will have online access to:

• Check in online 7 days prior to your next appointment using our eCheck-In* service
• View past and upcoming appointments
• View preparation instructions for upcoming appointments
• Complete pre-visit questionnaires*
• Cancel appointments*
• Update your demographics at any time (includes address, phone number, family physician, and more)
• View lab and test results
• View and share Diagnostic images including X-rays, ultrasounds, CTs, MRI and more
• Clinical notes on your care and treatment
• Track your health*
• Access your list of conditions or medical concerns diagnosed at Mackenzie Health as well as your prescribed medications and known allergies

*Available for select clinics

You can register for MyChart when scheduling an appointment or you can self-sign up online at mychart.mackenziehealth.ca.

Community-based location (Vaughan)

Health and Wellness Centre - Upper Thornhill Centre, Suite 340

955 Major Mackenzie Drive West
Vaughan, ON L6A 4P9
Phone: 905-883-2211
Fax: 905-883-0772
Email: diabetes@mackenziehealth.ca
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