Scope expands for pre-diabetes study at VRH

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The scope of a national pre-diabetes study underway at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville has been expanded in a hope to recruit more participants.

Researchers wanted to attract 500 participants from the Town of Kentville, but the scope has been expanded to include New Minas. There are 113 participants registered at this point and researchers are still hoping to recruit 500.

Pam Talbot of the Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia, project manager, said the only other site in the province participating is Antigonish. Over 200 participants have registered there.

The study ties in with the newly released Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Canadian Diabetes Association. Talbot said the guidelines place an emphasis on pre-diabetes because if you can identify people at risk at that stage, they can make lifestyle changes to delay or even prevent the onset of diabetes.

The more participants they get the more evidence they’ll have to examine from the “CanRisk” questionnaire. The purpose of developing the survey is to identify risk factors and determine more specifically who should be recommended for diabetes screening and when. For example, one question asks about a family history of diabetes, a huge risk factor.

Data collected across the country will be pooled and shared with public health agencies. Talbot said they want to develop a community-based pre-diabetes lifestyle program that could be moved outside the heath care system.

“You need to be between 40 and 74 years old, living in Kentville, New Minas or the immediate surrounding area,” Talbot said in regard to the prerequisites for participation. “You cannot have a pre-existing diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes. If you’re a woman, you can’t be pregnant.”

Identified three people with diabetes so far

Kendra Scallion, local facilitator of the pre-diabetes pilot project, said blood collection for the study was to wrap-up in October, but has been extended into November. They have identified three people with diabetes through the study so far. For individuals diagnosed with diabetes through the study without family doctors, family doctors will be provided because health care providers want these people to get into treatment as soon as possible.

Anne Harris of New Minas, a participant in the study, said she fit criteria for the study so she decided to participate. She said it’s easy to do so and it’s a one-shot deal.

You have to get a finger-prick blood test in the morning after fasting since midnight and then drink a sweet orange drink similar to orange pop.

“Then you sit and play cards for a couple hours,” she said. “No big deal.”

After a couple of hours your blood is tested again to see if the blood sugar is high. Harris said the process didn’t bother her.

“It helps them get the people they need and it helps me know about my health,” Harris said about her participation.

Anyone over 40 should have risk assessment

Representatives of the Public Health Agency of Canada were on hand for a site visit last Saturday morning in Kentville. Talbot said the representatives wanted to observe the process. They made a site visit to Antigonish and also attended meetings in Halifax while in the province.

Everyone over age 40 should have their diabetes risk factors assessed. One out of four men in Nova Scotia over age 70 have been diagnosed as diabetic. Although there are medications available for pre-diabetics, a more effective approach is active prevention. Exercising for 30 minutes a day four to five times a week and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet goes a long way.

Testing usually takes place at VRH Saturday or Sunday mornings. Inquire about alternate times. Participants are given toonies to cover parking expenses.

For more information, contact Scallion at (902) 679-7619 or e-mail KScallion@avdha.nshealth.ca.