Fact Sheet

Healthy Living: Supporting Action for Diabetes Prevention

Promoting physical activity to help prevent and manage diabetes

News Release: Minister Aglukkaq applauds MP Ryan Leef's efforts to fight diabetes

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and healthy eating, plays an important role in the health of Canadians who live with diabetes.

The Border2Border initiative is a dramatic and uniquely Canadian example of efforts to build awareness for diabetes prevention and management. On July 3, Ryan Leef, MP for Yukon, will embark on the first 1,000 kilometre leg of a planned three-year, 3,000 kilometre trek around the Yukon perimeter to raise awareness and funds for diabetes prevention.

To support Ryan Leef's efforts, the Public Health Agency of Canada (Agency) will partner with the Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (RPAY) to develop a virtual trail on its website enabling Canadians to track his progress on foot, bicycle and kayak during the summer of 2013. The Agency and RPAY hope that this will inspire fellow Yukoners to be active alongside Mr Leef, and to track their efforts using this interactive resource.

This collaboration with RPAY and the Border2Border initiative is an example of the Government of Canada's work to advance innovative partnerships, which include the private and not-for-profit sectors, to promote healthy living, and to help people living with diabetes and other chronic diseases obtain information and tools to better manage their health. Through the Canadian Diabetes Strategy (CDS), the Government of Canada raises awareness of the disease and its risk factors. The CDS also created the first integrated national diabetes surveillance system.

Providing Canadians with information to support the prevention of chronic diseases is a priority for the government. For most people, type 2 diabetes is preventable and early detection is key. Our Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire – CANRISK – can help Canadians understand their risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including body weight, ethnicity, physical activity and family history. CANRISK can be found online at: The Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire, through 1-800-OCANADA and in all Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave and Rexall locations.