Diabetes Education Community Network of East Toronto (DECNET)

Entering 2022, the Diabetes Education Community Network of East Toronto (DECNET) continues to provide in-person and virtual appointments to clients with Type 2 Diabetes and Pre-diabetes. By late-2021, DECNET returned to both in-person and virtual services at our partner locations, Access Point on Danforth Ave. and the Albany Medical Clinic. Engaging with clients, the team determines the most appropriate way of providing care, virtually or on-site, keeping pandemic protocols and safety in mind at all times. As well, our satellite site at 1245 Danforth Ave. is being renovated in order to create additional counselling space and we hope to start seeing clients there in March.

November was observed as Diabetes Awareness Month across the world. To raise awareness and provide resources and support to the community, DECNET collaborated with the Harmony Community Food Centre and distributed 90 healthy and hearty oatmeal recipe kits at the drop-in community meal program.

Two new registered nurses, Harneet and Princy, were welcomed to our team in December. They have completed orientation and look forward to seeing clients both virtually and at our multiple locations.

All of our group programs continue to be offered virtually via Zoom (and DECNET’s health promoter is available to help troubleshoot if there are access problems). The groups being offered this winter are: Diabetes Support (offered in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Bengali); Mental Health & Diabetes (T.E.A.M. DECNET); and Exercise (in collaboration with East End Community Health Centre). Additionally, Stephen, our social worker, will be offering a workshop to share tips and tools for coping with anxiety and stress brought on by the pandemic.

Clients interested in knowing more about any of the groups can contact Asmita, DECNET’s health promoter, at 416-461-9043, ext. 2362.