Chronic diseases, particularly Type 2 diabetes has reached an epidemic stage, with more than 250 million people with diabetes worldwide, governments and health organizations cannot cope with the daily increased number of patients using conventional approaches.

HNCL has worked with a number of organizations to develop unique; evidence based comprehensive diabetes prevention and management programs ranging from education to community-based prevention and management models, and to state-of-the-art virtual diabetes centers.

Health We bring all stakeholders together; health care services, medical associations, community services organizations, not-for-profit associations, pharmaceuticals, and patient support groups during the planning, funding, and implementation stages of our initiatives.

Our philosophy is based on empowerment and motivation of patients to play a leading role in managing their chronic diseases through culturally sensitive and holistic self-education interactive education programs; providing healthcare professionals with innovative technology based tools for better treatment and monitor patients; and integrated solutions for healthcare services to cost effectively manage their resources while providing efficient services to the clients.

Health Education

While much of our ground-breaking work has been related to diabetes, we are steadfastly committed to healthcare in general, and strongly believe that multimedia and e-learning technologies can play an important role in delivering user-friendly public health education programs. HNCL has developed two major initiatives for diabetes education: Live Well with Diabetes and Diabetes and My Nation. Currently we are developing programs on Hepatitis and Thyroid.

Community Based Diabetes Prevention and Management Model

A Community Based Diabetes Prevention and Management Model ("CBDPMM"), a patient focused approach, was developed HNCL in association with a team of healthcare professionals specialized in diabetes prevention and management, and considerable input from patients and other stakeholders. The model was developed based on the precedents and findings of  "Diabetes and My Nation". The model was implemented at the Haisla First Nation and has achieved significant results in terms of prevention and management of diabetes and the sustainability and ownership of the disease within the community  Read more .....

Technology Based Solutions

Health Diabetes, as other chronic diseases, is a complex illness that requires a comprehensive approach to prevent and manage; it requires ownership by the patient with long term support by a multidisciplinary healthcare team. It also requires continues supervised monitoring and modification to management plans. Among the applications that HNCL has developed is Virtual Diabetes Center (“VDC”), an Electronic Medical Records system with specialized modules for Diabetes Visit Records based on diabetes care practical guidelines. It facilitates the coordination among the integrated medical care team and patient self-management to provide better patient care, and improve workflow and productivity of the health care system. VDC can also be used as a diabetes registry and could be customized for pharmaceutical and medical research.  Read more .....


Our team includes professional healthcare providers, health administrators, and patients with considerable business expertise, to ensure that our solutions are evidence based, comprehensive, cost effective, and sustainable.

Health Education Programs

Live Well with Diabetes
A comprehensive multicultural diabetes education program developed in association with the BC Endocrine Research Foundation. Read more..

Starting Insulin
A step-by-step guide on using insulin developed in partnership with the BC Endocrine Research Foundation and a number of pharmaceutical companies. Read more..

Diabetes and My Nation
This unique HNCL project was selected as one of eight best practices in Canada in 2008 by the First Nation and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Read more..

Around the Kitchen Table
This DVD and website was developed for the BC Centre for Disease Control to promote HIV prevention.

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Diabetes Awareness and Screening

HNCL has organized more than 20 diabetes awareness and screening events for the First Nations communities in British Columbia. These events were community gatherings to share traditional food and activities, share knowledge about diabetes from healthcare professionals and community members, and provide community members an opportunity to test if they have, or at risk of developing, diabetes. Screening included random glucose. If it test was higher than (8 mmols/l) or if they have known diabetes, their A1c was tested By Point-of Care testing. Other tests included blood pressure, BMI, and lipids to complete a Metabolic Syndrome profile.

Heath Promotion

HNCL works with a number of different health organizations to provide patients with information about their activities and services.

Among these organizations are:
BC Radiological Society
BC Endocrine Research Foundation
East Vancouver Aboriginal Diabetes Coalition



Touch
HNCL Diabetes Education Kiosk


Our Services
  • Designing and implementing health education programs
  • Developing web base health education program
  • Developing web base CME
  • Designing and implementing diabetes awareness strategies
  • Developing software applications
  • Training and transfer of technology
  • Literature Review
  • Developing Clinical Outcome Measures
  • Evaluation of Disease Management Program Effectiveness
  • System analysis, identifying gaps in care delivery system, and designing alternative solutions
  • Develop stakeholders partnerships

Live Well with Diabetes


In association with the BC Endocrine Research Foundation, HNCL has developed a comprehensive multicultural diabetes education program. It is available as a web-based program as well as in DVD format, Kiosk application, iPod downloads, and accessible by iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, and Blackberry smart phones; it is also accessible by regular mobile phones (Java based with Internet access).

Live Well with Diabetes goes beyond a generic public health model and addresses the cultural aspects that motivate people from different ethnic backgrounds to manage their health. This program is available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Farsi, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

In addition to the development of this application, HNCL also participates in fundraising activities, conducts pilot projects to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and promotes the program through conferences and workshops. We have also produced all promotional materials and newsletters related to this program.

Live Well with Diabetes was sponsored by most of the major pharmaceutical companies, and has been used since 2005 by diabetes educator and community services organizations in many part of the world.

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Diabetes is a lifelong disease, as a chronic disease it requires constant modification to lifestyle and treatment. Live Well with Diabetes is a resource that you can use when you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to learn about the disease and how to manage it; also to share the information with your family members so they understand and appreciate the modification in lifestyle that you have to do. If you are taking medication or insulin; it is a comprehensive resource on how to take these medications, their potential side effects and how to monitor their impact on your management program. No matter how much you know about diabetes, continues learning is valuable and will help you to better manage diabetes.

Live Well with Diabetes is not a substitute to the information you will receive from your doctor or at the diabetes education centre.

Learn how to understand your blood sugar monitoring results and lab results. Prepare yourself before visiting your doctor with specific questions to make best use of the visit time.

It has been well documented that patients look to family physicians for advice and counselling in the areas of medical therapy, physical activity, and diet. However, diabetes requires long term and extensive education; a number of factors could affect the education provided by the physician such as time restriction, languages and cultural. Live Well with Diabetes can assist you in providing education to your patients before, during, and after their visit to your practice.

Time of diagnoses:
When the patient has already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you can refer her/him to Live Well with Diabetes website to start their learning process. As you know in Canada only 30% of people with type 2 diabetes attend Diabetes Education Centres, and the average waiting period is three month. This could lead to misconceptions and to patient’s ignoring the value of informed self-management and compliance with a treatment plan. The delay in receiving appropriate education could have a serious impact on the long-term health of people with diabetes.

During the visit
The waiting time is most practices ranges from 15 to 60 minutes, this valuable time could be utilized by using iPad or Touch Screen computers to education the patient on diabetes in general or on a specific topic that you are planning to discuss with the patient; this will make the visit more interactive and efficient.

After the visit
You can refer the patient to most of Live Well with Diabetes educational modules; however there are a number of modules that could be of high value these are starting insulin and how to use insulin injection devices, diabetes medication, physical activity, foot care, and healthy diet. For example, if you prescript insulin; the patient can learn how to using the insulin injection device from Live Well with Diabetes right away, this will help to reduce anxiety, also the patient can share this information with their family members. Even if the patient receives the information at your practice or from the pharmacy; they can always refresh their knowledge by accessing Live Well with Diabetes which is available from most of the mobile devices in addition to personal computers.

The majority of patients who attend classes at Diabetes Education Centres are newly diagnosed and have little to no knowledge about diabetes and how to manage. Most of the classes are structured in the form teacher student format, as well as the difference in age, level of education, cultural and language backgrounds of the patients could prevent many of the patients from receiving the maximum benefit of the class.

Two pilot studies were carried out in association with the Vancouver Hospital Diabetes Education Centre to evaluate the viability of ‘Live Well with Diabetes’ as a Preparation Tool for diabetes education classes. This involved providing the diabetes education course’s attendees with “Live Well with Diabetes” materials (DVD/CD-ROM/Video Tape/Website access) prior to attending their course.

In this small group of individuals there are several conclusions regarding the use of the ‘Live Well with Diabetes’ program.

  • The majority of individuals involved agreed it was useful to review the program before attending the class
  • The majority of individuals agreed that the program was easy to understand, increased their understanding of diabetes and motivated them to better manage their diabetes
  • All agreed they would recommend the program to others with diabetes
  • A roughly 50/50 split between DVD and VHS suggests equal demand for both formats in this demographic. Public libraries are currently phasing out VHS which could dramatically reduce the availability of this program to some individuals

As a diabetes support group, you can build a structured educational program utilizing Live Well with Diabetes materials. Each month members of the group can chose a topic, for example insulin, each member can view that module alone; invite a local healthcare professional with expertise in this particular field to interact with members of the group and answer and additional questions they may have. Also members can share their experience and how they were able to meet any challenge they have faced. If you can’t find an expert to join your meeting; the group can watch the model together and then share their experience.



A large percentage of hospital visitors (long/short term) are diagnosed with type 2; Live Well with Diabetes can be integrated as part of the hospital closed TV circuit or used as DVDs to provide these patients with valuable education while they are staying at the hospital. The program could also be used as Continued Medical Education to hospital staffs that are not trained on managing diabetes.


Benefits to people with diabetes

  • Quick and easy access to information after being diagnosed with diabetes
  • Learning about topics that may not be covered by the traditional diabetes education sources
  • Learning from other people with diabetes’ experiences
  • Sharing knowledge with family and friends for building a better support system and promote prevention
  • Motivation and taking ownership of their diabetes

Benefits to health care providers and diabetes education centres

  • Compliance with treatment plans
  • Improve communication between patients and healthcare providers
  • Reduce visitation time while maintaining job satisfaction by providing patients with education
  • Broaden scope of education
  • Improve efficiency
  • Reduce waiting period

Benefits to health care system

  • Deliver efficient health education in rural and remote areas
  • Informed patients will learn more from the diabetes clinics and will increase the return on investment in clinics
  • Reduce the overload and waiting periods
  • Reduce potential hospital stay
  • Assist in diabetes prevention efforts by educating the diabetic families about diabetes and the importance of a healthy lifestyle

Benefits to sponsors

  • Demonstrate leadership by introducing an effective innovative diabetes education tool
  • Develop customer loyalty
  • Integrate with other marketing initiatives

Starting Insulin


starting insulin
Working in partnership with both the BC Endocrine Research Foundation and a number of pharmaceutical companies, HNCL produced a step-by-step guide on using insulin. Starting Insulin is a web-based application (also available in DVD format, mobile phones, and as iPod downloads) that is also accessible on Smartphones running Windows Mobile operating systems.

Starting Insulin is a step-by-step guide on a subject matter that can often be confusing for people recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes and my nation
Diabetes and My Nation DVDs and website. A culturally appropriate multimedia educational program presented a holistic approach to diabetes prevention and management. The majority of contributors to Diabetes and My Nation educational materials were First Nations doctors, nurses, health educators, traditional healers, nutritionists and community members living with diabetes.