The Unama’ki Diabetes Initiative supports First Nations and Mi’kmaq communities through community-based diabetes prevention, education, screening, and wellness initiatives. Our work focuses on promoting healthy living, increasing awareness of diabetes and its complications, and improving access to culturally relevant supports and services.

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The Unama’ki Diabetes Lead works alongside community members, health staff, schools, families, and partners to strengthen local capacity and support healthier communities. This includes delivering diabetes education, supporting early identification and risk reduction, promoting healthy eating and physical activity, and creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement that reflect local priorities, culture, and lived experiences.

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Our approach is community-driven and relationship-based. We aim to support individuals and families across the diabetes continuum through prevention, self-management support, culturally safe education, and collaboration with community and health partners.

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‍Key initiatives include:

·      Diabetes prevention and awareness

·      Community education and wellness promotion

·      Healthy eating through cooking sessions and nutrition education

·      Physical activity and movement programs

·      Screening support, guidance, and referrals

·      Support school food engagement project for healthier nutrition in schools

·      Community partnerships and capacity-building

·      Culturally grounded, Mi’kmaq-informed approaches that reflect community values, knowledge, and ways of living ‍

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MAIN CONTACT:
Katrina Paul, RN BScN
Phone: 902-919-1471
Email: katrinapaul@unsm.org