At the BCHC health issues are assessed, diagnosed and managed by a variety of health professionals. An interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, dietitians, health promoters and community health workers provide health care services to registered clients of the BCHC.

Working together, this team looks at the factors in our client's lives that impact their health and well-being; income, housing, social supports, employment and access to healthy, affordable food. Our staff have expertise in health promotion, wellness care, chronic disease, and mental health issues and apply that knowledge to help clients address their barriers to health.

The Healthy aging team offers comprehensive geriatric primary health care including care for office, housebound, frail seniors, palliative care and follow up for patients admitted to local retirement and nursing homes. Complex geriatric and cognition consultations are provided both in house for the Barrie clinical team as well as in collaboration with the Aging Well Clinic of the BCFHT. This service is for residents of North Innisfil who are over the age of 60, with no primary health care practitioner, based on available room on the caseload.

Physiotherapy programs target those facing barriers to access for individualized assessment and treatment for clients of BCHC or the community that do not have third party insurance, access to MVA or WSIB benefits or can access the Community Physiotherapy clinics.

Social work program providing counselling and support, CBT, Anxiety Support Program, Expressive Arts program

Dietitian services including assessment and counselling for clients of the BCHC as well as the community that do not have access to a Registered Dietitian.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that happens when your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.

Although diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy (www.niddk.nih.gov).

There are four types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes (the body cannot make any insulin)
• Type 2 Diabetes (the body does not make enough insulin or doesn't use it well enough)
• Gestational Diabetes (the body does not make enough insulin during pregnancy)
• Pre-diabetes (blood sugars are higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes)

More than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. Many don't even know they have it. Chances are diabetes affects you or someone you know. No matter what type of diabetes you have, the educators in the Diabetes Management Centre will help you manage your diabetes and prevent or delay complications.

The Diabetes Management Centre sees adults living with Type 1, Type 2 or Gestational Diabetes as well as those who have Prediabetes. We are a team of Registered Nurses and Registered Dietitians who work alongside diabetes specialists (Endocrinologists) to help you manage your diabetes.

Services we offer:

• One-on-one appointments with Nurses and/or Dietitians
• Group sessions – cooking demos, education and exercise classes
• Specialist care
• Education and support for adults controlling their diabetes with medications, injections, insulin pumps or simply with diet and lifestyle
• Insulin pump starts and support
• On-going follow up as needed by clients

How to book an appointment

• Physician Referral:
  Physicians can refer their patients to this service by submitting the 'Diabetes HCP Referral' form found on this site by fax (705-719-4877). You may also call the centre to obtain a copy of the referral form.
• Self-Referral:
  Self-referrals are accepted; please complete the 'Diabetes - Self-Referral' form on this site or call 705-734-9690. 
• Online Self-Referral:
  Submit an 'Online self referral'
• For more information, 'click here'

Diabetes Management Centre Hours and Contact Information

• Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
• Friday: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Contact Information:

• Phone: 705-734-9690 extension 283
• Fax: 705-719-4877

Mailing Address:

• 490 Huronia Road Barrie, ON, L4N 6M2

Some of the topics your Registered Nurse and/or Registered Dietitian will talk with you about are:

• How to monitor your blood sugar
• Ways to manage your blood sugar
• Healthy eating and weight management
• Eating in special situations (i.e. restaurants, parties)
• How your diabetes medications work
• What happens when you are sick
• Diabetes and pregnancy
• How to manage your diabetes when you travel

We are a team made up of Certified Diabetes Educators, Certified Pump Trainers, Registered Dietitians and Registered Nurses.

Our services:

• Initial Education
• Follow-up Appointments with Registered Nurses and/or Registered Dietitians
• On-site Clinics with local Endocrinologists
• Transition Program to ease the shift from Pediatric to Adult Diabetes care
• Insulin Pump Starts and ongoing Management
• Support through Pregnancy with Type 1 Diabetes.

Here are some helpful resources for those with Type 1 Diabetes:

Funding:

• Disability Tax Credit: The disability tax credit (DTC) is a non-refundable $1,500 tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or severe and prolonged impairment requiring life-sustaining therapy, including Type 1 Diabetes, reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. You will need to have your doctor sign off on Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate to qualify.
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP): If you have a long-term physical disability, you can get help paying for equipment and supplies when you qualify for the Assistive Devices Program.
• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP): A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a program that helps Canadians with disabilities save for long-term financial needs, such as future medical and living costs. Like an RESP, investment income is tax-deferred and you may be eligible for tax-deferred growth, no annual contribution limit, and government assistance.

T1D Info:

• Diabetes Canada
• JDRF

Nutrition:

• Unlock Food  by Dietitians of Canada

Groups, Programs and Adventures:

• Connected in Motion
• I Challenge Diabetes