General Information
An estimated 1.2 million people in Ontario have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, and those numbers are expected to rise. Diabetes has a strong prevalence in individuals of Asian, South Asian and Caribbean descent, and with much of our community’s population comprised of these cultural backgrounds, SHN has become a leader in diabetes management, treatment and prevention strategies.
There is data available showing incidence in Scarborough compared to rest of the province.
Patients with diabetes have complex needs and require a wide range of services, including intensive, short-term care in some cases to stabilize their condition. These services are provided by an interprofessional health care team, (made up of endocrinologist, registered nurse and registered dietician if needed referrals can be made to CCDC for social work and pharmacist) which includes education and social supports, to ensure patients receive overall, holistic care throughout their journey.
SHN partners with many health care and community organizations to ensure access to timely, high-quality services in the most appropriate setting. Services include diagnostic testing, assessments, interventions, follow-up and education to provide integrated, patient-focused care from hospital to community that enhances the quality of life for our patients living with diabetes. If you are living with diabetes, education is an important part of helping to manage your condition. SHN offers diabetes education services for children, adolescents, and adults.
Adult Diabetes Education Program
Adult Diabetes Education Program
SHN offers adult diabetes education to help patients with diabetes learn about managing their condition. Patients are supported individually and/or within group sessions. We work on educating our patients (and their families) on medication management, the proper use of insulin and a healthy diet and lifestyle. As diabetes management is an ongoing process, in collaboration with your team an appropriate plan of care tailored to meet your individualized needs can be arranged.
Our Diabetes Education Centre provides management for people with:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Pregnant women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Type 1-ADP pump program
- Pre-pregnancy counselling
- Steroid induced hyperglycemia or secondary diabetes
What We Offer
- Individualized/group counselling by registered nurses and dietitians
- Pregnancy care for gestational, type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Insulin pump therapy clinic and support
- Insulin start groups
- Regular diabetes follow-up
- Endocrinology clinic
- Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP) initiation and support
- In person, telephone and email follow up/support
- Referral to other speciality clinics within our organization as needed
- Referrals for foot care
- Referrals to community partners for ongoing support
Patients are referred to the program by their family physician, obstetrician, or endocrinologist. Depending on your needs, in collaboration with your diabetes team, we can tailor a program specific to your diabetes management plan.
If required, referrals can be made to other health care services—including social work, chiropody, psychiatry, nephrology, cardiology—all available at SHN. Our patients have access to the hospital’s in-house lab, allowing our patients faster access to all blood results related to their diabetes care.
What to Bring for Your Appointment
Before your first visit, be sure to bring the following:
- Your health card
- An updated list of your medications
- Your blood glucose meter
- Your blood glucose log book
Clinic Hours
The Diabetes Clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact Us
For questions or more information, please call us at:
Birchmount Hospital – 416-495-2400 ext. 5318
Centenary Hospital – 416-281-7375
General Hospital – 416-431-8149
Ocean eReferral
This unit now accepts Ocean eReferrals! For additional information, please email your Ontario Health East Deployment Team at contact@ereferralontarioeast.ca.
Registering for Ocean
SHN, the Scarborough Ontario Health Team (SOHT), and Scarborough Family Physicians Network (SFPN) are working together to support healthcare providers in our community who may be interested in onboarding onto Ocean. Get started by completing the Ontario Health East online form.
Fax Referral
Paediatric Diabetes Education Clinic
Paediatric Diabetes Education Clinic
As part of our Galaxy 12 Child and Teen Clinics located at our Centenary hospital, the paediatric diabetes education clinic offers counselling and support services to patients who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and their families.
Patients who have been identified as being at high risk of developing diabetes also receive services in our clinic. The health care team includes a paediatric endocrinologist, a social worker, a registered dietitian, and registered nurse.
Our overall goal is to help our patients and their families successfully manage diabetes. We treat the whole person, and not just the disease. Our staff assist our patients and families in doing this by educating them on medication management; the proper use of insulin; and healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Weekly clinics with an endocrinologist
- Comprehensive individual teaching for newly diagnosed patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Individual counselling for diet and lifestyle management for patients determined to be at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes
- Telephone and email follow up and support, as well as after-hours phone and email support for emergency diabetes management
Patients are referred to the paediatric diabetes education clinic by their family physician.
Depending on your needs, we can tailor a program specific to your diabetes management plan. A registered nurse and dietitian assess each patient individually so that a self-management plan can be created.
If required, referrals can be made to other health care services if needed. Our patients have access to the hospital’s in-house lab, allowing our patients faster access to all blood results related to their diabetes care.
- Your health card
- An updated list of your medications
- Your blood glucose meter
- Your insulin
- Your blood glucose log book
Contact Us
The paediatric diabetes education clinic is located on the 12th floor at our Centenary hospital. For more information, please contact the Galaxy 12 Child and Teen Clinics at 416-281-7476.
How to Access Care
How to Access
Contact Us
Adult Diabetes Education Program
Centenary Hospital
416-281-7375
Adult Diabetes Education Program
General Hospital
416-431-8149
Adult Diabetes Education Program
Birchmount Hospital
416-495-2400 Ext: 5339
Helpful Links
Referral Forms
A referral from your physician is needed.
Ocean eReferral
The Adult Diabetes Education Program now accepts Ocean eReferrals! For additional information, please email your Ontario Health East Deployment Team at contact@ereferralontarioeast.ca.
Registering for Ocean
SHN, the Scarborough Ontario Health Team (SOHT), and Scarborough Family Physicians Network (SFPN) are working together to support healthcare providers in our community who may be interested in onboarding onto Ocean. Get started by completing the Ontario Health East online form.
Send a fax referral: