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Programs - British Columbia
Information line a vital link for Chinese-speaking community
Every eight minutes, another Canadian will discover they have diabetes. They will then need to learn to manage their condition. Factor in the challenge of a language barrier, and for some, the diagnosis can be overwhelming.
To help people cope, the Association’s Pacific Area runs the Diabetes Information and Support Centre (DISC), often an initial point of contact for the newly diagnosed. Trained volunteers provide up-to-date information, resources, referrals and support.
“Our role is to help people take charge of their health,” says Franca Lattanzio, DISC librarian. The centre provides educational pamphlets, access to its lending library, and referrals to other resources, including Dial-a-Dietitian.
“We often put callers in touch with community partners who offer more specialised services,” she says.
Unfortunately, for those whose first language is not English, diabetes resources are not easily accessed. For many Chinese-speaking people, limited English skills continue to be a barrier—a vital issue for a community with a high risk of developing diabetes.
In 2000, the Association created a dedicated national help line with Cantonese and Mandarin-speaking telephone volunteers. This is the only toll-free, one-on-one Chinese-language diabetes information line available in North America.
“We strongly encourage Chinese people to use our service if they have been diagnosed,” says Iris Lui, the Association’s Chinese community educator. “Diabetes requires a lot of self-management and people have to change their lifestyle and eating habits.”
Staff and volunteers connect callers to available resources in their area. “Our pamphlets have been translated for the Chinese community,” says Lui. “Health information is essential, especially for a chronic condition like diabetes.”
Association volunteers undergo an intensive 16-hour training program covering basic nutrition, diabetes management and DISC, home of the largest Chinese diabetes library in Western Canada.
In BC, 19,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes each year. Many of those cases could be prevented with lifestyle modifications. By 2010, we will be celebrating feats of healthy athletes from around the world. At the same time more than 325,000 British Columbians will be suffering from diabetes.
Of the 2 million Canadians living with diabetes, more than one-third don’t know they have it. Some people experience symptoms, but often there aren’t any. By the time many people are diagnosed, the disease has caused serious damage.
“Unfortunately, many patients are diagnosed ten years after they have already developed the disease,” says Dr. Kwang Yang, a Vancouver-based family doctor.
“Early intervention for diabetes is only possible if people know they’re at risk.”
Dr. Yang has been instrumental in supporting the efforts of the Association’s Chinese language services. He helped develop several of the centre’s translated materials.
“Our sole purpose is to raise awareness about diabetes symptoms, its prevention and provide answers to the public,” he says.
With careful management, people with diabetes can live active, independent and vital lives. The Association recommends routine screening every three years for those ages 40 and over, and annually for people with other risk factors.
The Chinese diabetes information service is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon (toll-free: 1 (888) 666-8586 or local (604) 732-8187).
For more information, and to become a volunteer, contact the Diabetes Information and Support Centre toll-free: 1 (800) 268-4656.