Healthy Lifestyle Programs

Explore our diverse diabetes prevention programs designed to fit your lifestyle, including virtual group sessions, in-person workshops, and self-paced online courses. Whether you prefer interactive group settings, personal coaching, or self-guided learning, we have the right option to help you manage your health effectively.

Type 2 diabetes can be reversed, and this program is covered in BC, AB, and ON. A Canadian, physician-led team provides a lifestyle prescription to help reduce insulin resistance, decrease or eliminate medications, and restore normal blood sugar levels. The program is entirely virtual, with all medical sessions and consultations conducted through video calls, ensuring a safe, supervised process that allows for personalized care without travel or waiting rooms. Family doctors are kept informed as the program progresses, ensuring seamless and coordinated care.

Newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or need a refresher? Diabetes Canada's virtual education program offers practical, up-to-date tips and answers to your questions through live online sessions and video recordings. Explore diabetes management basics and dive into specific topics with our monthly updates. While focused on Type 2 diabetes, the content is beneficial for anyone managing or caring for diabetes. Register now to get started!

Aroga Lifestyle Medicine offers evidence-based programs focusing on holistic, non-pharmaceutical treatments for chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Their approach includes personalized care, lifestyle changes, and support through programs such as Reversal & Prevention and On-Going Monthly Care.

Do you want to participate? First, determine your risk of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes by taking the program test. If you qualify, sign up for the program at your local YMCA or community organization, or join the SSBC mailing list if it's not yet available in your area. You'll get a month of access to a fitness facility and six personalized exercise and dietary coaching sessions over three weeks.

This winter-friendly workout by Eating Well provides an efficient, heart-pumping exercise routine that can be done at home, eliminating the need for a gym or braving the cold weather.

Resistance training, recommended 2-3 times a week by Diabetes Canada, helps improve diabetes management by building and maintaining lean muscle, burning calories at rest, and aiding in weight control. Simple resistance exercises can be done at home with items like exercise bands, dumbbells, or even household objects, offering benefits such as better blood sugar control, increased strength, and improved overall health. Start with 2 sets of 8 repetitions and gradually progress to 3 sets of 12.

Take charge of your health with LifeStyleRx videos by understanding metabolism—the process of turning food into energy, growth, and repair—which is key to staying strong and healthy while avoiding metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.

Join the LifestyleRx Better Community Support Group and take the first step toward a healthier, more energetic you! Connect with like-minded individuals, access expert guidance, and discover personalized strategies to improve your metabolic health. Together, we'll tackle challenges, celebrate victories, and build sustainable habits for lasting well-being.

An aerobic exercise plan from Diabetes Canada helps improve cardiovascular fitness and is crucial for managing diabetes. The plan encourages regular aerobic activity (e.g., walking) and gradually increases frequency, intensity, and duration. It is important to exercise regularly and monitor blood sugar, as exercise may affect medication responses. The intensity of exercise is rated on a scale from 0 (rest) to 10 (maximal). Benefits of exercise include improved blood sugar control, reduced diabetes complications, and better overall health. Setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-oriented) helps stay motivated and track progress.

This Diabetes Canada webinar highlights that regular physical activity offers numerous benefits, including better blood sugar control, but balancing a fitness routine with a busy schedule can be difficult.

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for controlling type 2 diabetes. Excess weight can increase insulin resistance and make blood sugar management more challenging. Set realistic weight goals and work towards achieving them through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise. Even a modest weight loss of 5-10% of your body weight can significantly improve blood sugar control.

Stress can negatively impact blood sugar levels and overall diabetes management. Implement stress-reducing techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or deep-breathing exercises to help manage daily stress. Establishing a balanced lifestyle with adequate sleep and relaxation can also contribute to better blood sugar control and overall well-being.

Diabetes UK highlights the complex relationship between diabetes and sleep, as fluctuations in blood sugar and complications like neuropathy can disrupt sleep, making it harder for people with diabetes to get quality rest.

Diabetes Canada reflects on the power of mind in diabetes management. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Suzanne Foreman turned to yoga, meditation, and journaling to manage her condition, finding these practices helped her emotionally and physically cope with the stress, while fostering self-compassion and mindfulness.

Discover the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with HealthLink BC. This evidence-based program helps you calm your mind and body to manage stress, illness, and pain effectively. Learn techniques like mindfulness meditation, yoga, and body scanning to focus on the present moment, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being.

UBC’s Thrive initiative offers simple, research-backed strategies to support your mental health through the Thrive 5: Move More, Sleep Soundly, Eat Well, Give Back, and Say Hi. These easy-to-implement habits promote resilience, connection, and a sense of wellbeing.

BounceBack® is a free program designed to help adults and youth aged 13 and up manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress, or worry. Delivered online or by phone with a coach, it provides tools to support your journey to mental wellness.

HelpStartsHere is a resource platform for residents of British Columbia, offering support for mental health, substance use, and general wellbeing. It provides access to information, crisis hotlines, addiction recovery tools, low-cost counseling options, and guidance for managing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Join a free event or support group provided by Diabetes Canada to connect with others facing similar challenges; share experiences, gain encouragement, and access resources that can help you navigate your diabetes journey..

Inspire Health offers free personalized and group support in various areas, including stress and mental health counseling, managing treatment side effects, nutritional guidance, exercise therapy to enhance recovery, sleep and energy improvement, and balancing work, life, and relationships. As a non-profit organization, we provide free programs and services both online and at our centers located in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna.

Explore the inspiring stories of individuals who have achieved type 2 diabetes remission by changing what they eat. They share their challenges and successes and offer hope, motivation, and practical tips to others who have type 2 diabetes.

Regular exercise plays a key role in diabetes management. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, per week, along with strength training exercises twice a week. Exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity, lowers blood sugar levels, and supports overall cardiovascular health. Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, finding enjoyable activities to ensure consistency.

Like many activities, physical exercise is more enjoyable with others. If you want to foster a sense of community through movement at your workplace, organization, or other groups, here are some programs to help you get started.

Diabetes Canada organizes engaging and community-focused events like Lace Up for Diabetes and Glow Blue. These events promote awareness, healthy living, and fundraising for diabetes research and support. Lace Up for Diabetes encourages participants to stay active through walking or running challenges, while Glow Blue events celebrate World Diabetes Day with illuminating activities and education. These initiatives aim to inspire healthier lifestyles and foster community spirit in the fight against diabetes.

Not finding what you're looking for? Search our directory of services located in your area that focus on Type 2 diabetes.

The My Heart Matters website offers valuable resources for caregivers supporting individuals with type 2 diabetes. It highlights the importance of understanding diabetes as a chronic condition and its connection to heart disease, which significantly affects those with diabetes.

HealthLink BC covers common challenges faced by caregivers, such as handling fluctuating blood sugar levels and managing the emotional and physical demands of caregiving. It encourages open communication with healthcare providers and emphasizes the importance of support networks to help caregivers.

ComForCare offers specialized diabetes care for seniors, including medication management, meal planning, and exercise routines. Caregivers help monitor blood sugar levels, coordinate doctor appointments, and ensure medication adherence.

Empower yourself to make a difference in the fight against Type 2 diabetes by exploring the Diabetes Canada free advocacy training programs, which provide essential skills and knowledge for effective engagement.