TORONTO — Loblaw Cos. has teamed up with the Canadian Diabetes Association to launch Get Checked Now, a national public awareness campaign aimed at Canadians age 40 and older to alert them to potential risks for developing type 2 diabetes.
Through the Get Checked Now initiative, which kicked off this week, the Canadian food and drug retailer and the association will offer a program to help Canadians get checked for type 2 diabetes and support those with the condition in living healthy lives.
Canadians can get a free, personalized diabetes risk assessment at participating pharmacies at Loblaws, Zehrs, Extra Foods, Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore and Your Independent Grocer stores. The assessment takes minutes and was developed in consultation with the Canadian Diabetes Association and complies with its Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada.
Free copies of a Canadian Diabetes Association and Loblaw co-branded publication called Verve: A Guide to Living Healthy with Diabetes will also be available.
Starting in the spring through to the end of the year, Loblaw and the association will deliver diabetes education sessions at pharmacies in select Loblaw stores to help Canadians learn how to manage their diabetes, as well as to help facilitate a network of individuals living with diabetes.
"Working with the Canadian Diabetes Association is another example of Loblaw’s commitment to help Canadians live healthier lives," Bobbi Reinholdt, senior vice president of pharmacy at Loblaw Cos., said in a statement. "Our pharmacists can provide personalized diabetes risk assessments at any time and education on managing diabetes, including diabetes medication reviews and information. Loblaw and its pharmacies aim to support Canadians’ healthier lifestyle goals in a one-stop shop experience."
Loblaw added that it has launched its "Helping You Live Life Well" event in its banner stores across Canada. The company said that with 100 new healthier items in the latest "President’s Choice Insiders Report" and a spotlight on diabetes health screening and education sessions, as an ongoing focus on fresh food offerings, it aims to motivate Canadians to live healthier lives.
According to a recent Environics Public Opinion Poll commissioned by the Canadian Diabetes Association, 43% of Canadians (without diabetes) indicate that they have never been tested for type 2 diabetes. Currently, more than 3 million Canadians have diabetes, and 1 million of those people have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Another 6 million Canadians have prediabetes, and nearly half of them will go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
"Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among the Canadian population. Many people with prediabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes may actually display no symptoms. It is critical that we all act now as diabetes is not only costing our health care system, but is costing Canadians their life," noted Michael Cloutier, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Diabetes Association. "Our campaign sponsors and distinctive collaboration with Loblaw will help Canadians get checked for type 2 diabetes and provide educational resources to help them manage the disease."
