Diabetes education for better health
The diabetes clinic at Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre helps people with diabetes learn to manage their condition and live healthy, active lives. Located at Lakewood Covenant Wellness Community, the clinic brings specialized diabetes care directly to the southeast Edmonton community.
Supporting people with all types of diabetes
The diabetes clinic serves people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes (a temporary form that occurs during pregnancy). The team provides education and support to help patients understand their condition and develop the skills they need for managing it effectively.
"We teach patients self-management and everything to do with diabetes," says Joyce Kutnikoff, a registered nurse who has worked at the diabetes clinic for 13 years.
The clinic also specializes in insulin pump therapy, providing comprehensive support for people who receive this advanced diabetes care.
Who the clinic serves
The diabetes clinic focuses on people who need specialized care beyond what their family doctor can provide. In the case of type 2 diabetes, this typically means those who need additional help managing their condition.
"We usually see people with type 2 diabetes who are already on the maximum dose of their pills and they need a specialist," Joyce says. "And we see anyone with type 1 diabetes."
The clinic provides specialized care for pregnant women with diabetes, seeing all patients with gestational diabetes as well as women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who become pregnant.
Gestational diabetes is common, says Joyce. She estimates that it affects 40 to 50 percent of expectant mothers, particularly those in their mid-30s to 40s.
Personalized care schedules
The care provided at the clinic is personalized to each patient’s individual needs and type of diabetes, including the frequency of visits. Pregnant patients with diabetes receive the most intensive monitoring.
"With our pregnant patients, we see them every one to two weeks until before they deliver,” says Joyce. “Usually, we see them up to about 36 weeks."
For other patients, the frequency of visits varies widely based on their specific situation. Some patients with well-controlled type 1 diabetes may only need annual visits, while others requiring pump training or additional support might be seen weekly or monthly.
"It depends on how much help they need. If they need more help, then we'll see them more often," Joyce says.
A comprehensive team approach
The diabetes clinic operates with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide comprehensive care. The team includes four registered nurses and three dietitians as permanent staff, with additional casual nurses and dietitians also contributing their skills.
This team-based approach ensures patients receive well-rounded support that addresses all aspects of diabetes management, from medical monitoring to nutrition education and lifestyle counseling.
Specialized programs and education
One of the clinic's signature offerings is "pump optimizing" sessions for patients who use insulin pumps. These educational sessions happen three to four times per year and feature different topics and guest speakers.
"It's an information session, and our patients love it,” says Joyce. We have up to 30 to 40 people who come."
The clinic hopes to make use of the demonstration kitchen at the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre for these educational sessions, allowing patients to learn practical cooking skills alongside their diabetes management education.
Convenient and accessible care
Operating at Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre rather than in a traditional hospital setting creates a different atmosphere for patients. The modern facility offers more space, better patient flow and a focus on wellness rather than illness.
The Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre’s design prioritizes patient convenience and accessibility. An underground parkade eliminates the stress of finding parking, and the non-hospital setting helps patients feel more comfortable and less anxious about their appointments.
The larger conference spaces also allow the diabetes clinic to accommodate more people for educational sessions and support groups, enhancing the community aspect of diabetes care.
Part of integrated care
The diabetes clinic benefits from being part of an integrated health campus where patients can access multiple services in one visit, says Joyce. For example, if the doctors order lab work, patients can go directly to the on-site laboratory. Other specialized tests and services are also available in the same building.
"All the different services will be there,” she says.
The clinic works closely with other services at Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre, including the cardiac rehabilitation program. Many patients have both diabetes and heart conditions, so having these services in the same location makes it easier to co-ordinate care and referrals.
This integrated approach reflects Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre's mission to provide comprehensive, co-ordinated care that addresses patients' multiple health needs in one convenient location.
The diabetes clinic represents a community-based approach to diabetes care that focuses on education, self-management skills and ongoing support to help people with diabetes live full, healthy lives while managing their condition effectively.
Find your way with Covenant Maps
With the Covenant Maps app, explore everything the Covenant Community Health Centre at Lakewood Covenant Wellness Community has to offer.
Download on the App Store or Google Play.