Diabetes, Exercise and Healthy Lifestyle

People with diabetes have a very high risk of heart disease.

Toronto Rehab is one of the few rehabilitation programs in Canada to offer an exercise and education program for people with diabetes.

This unique program helps people with diabetes:

• lower their risk of developing heart disease

• improve their strength and fitness

• work toward weight management goals

• achieve better glycemic control

• enhance their quality of lif.

Providing a Safe, Personalized Program

Our interprofessional health care team provides all participants with individualized care and support.

Participants begin the program with a cardiopulmonary exercise assessment. This measures their baseline heart fitness. Based on their needs and abilities, the team
creates a personalized program of exercise and education.

Participants attend one supervised exercise class a week at our Rumsey Centre. Each class consists of:

• a warm-up and stretching routine

• aerobic (walking) and resistance training (hand held weights)

• an interactive education session

• peer-to-peer support

Individuals are expected to carry out their own exercise program at home four more times a week. All participants keep a weekly diary to help them with their progress.  Exercise specialists work closely with participants to help them achieve their goals.

 

Additional Support for Lifestyle Changes

Participants may also receive one-to-one or group sessions with a psychologist or social worker to deal with issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, anger, and social and emotional issues.

Nutritional counselling is available on an individual or group basis.

Educational seminars and group discussions provide information to help participants understand and manage their disease. Topics covered include:

• ABC’s of controlling diabetes

• introducing exercise into your life and exercise safety

• risk factors for heart disease

• individualized goal setting

• choosing healthy foods

Getting Started

Your doctor must refer you to this program.  Ask your doctor to complete the referral form and fax it to (416) 425-0301.

 

Maintaining Heart Health

Heart health is lifelong commitment. To help program graduates maintain their lifestyle changes, Toronto Rehab offers the program Heart Health for Life presented by Scotiabank.