Diabetes Education Centres (DEC) - Central/North Vancouver Island

Provided by Island Health

Provides education and support to people living with or at risk of diabetes, and their families.
Diabetes Education Centres (DECs) provide education, support, and assistance to people who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. Services are offered to people of all ages in both outpatient and inpatient settings, with the goal to help people with diabetes self-manage their condition, and live a balanced and healthy life. No referral is required - self referrals, physician referrals and all other health care professional referrals are accepted.

DECs are available across Vancouver Island, with locations in Victoria and as far north as the Mount Waddington Region and Port Alberni. Each location will offer a variation of the following services through a combination of drop-in appointments, individual appointments, and classes and group sessions. A family member or support person may accompany the patient to appointments Please refer to the website for each location for individualized information.

Dietitian and Nurse are trained as Diabetes Educators to help answer questions and address concerns, including:
  • Blood sugar testing (including provisions of meters if needed) and blood sugar strip certification
  • Nutrition information for blood sugar and heart health
  • Lifestyle practices that improve blood sugars and heart health
  • Carbohydrate counting
  • Review of diabetes medications including insulin
  • Insulin and Victoza starts
  • Help with self-management of insulin doses to get good blood sugar control
  • Resources for improving mood and motivation.

Location finder: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

250-724-8824 (Port Alberni)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Port Alberni Community Community Health Services - 4259 – 6th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia, V9Y 4N1

Hours of Operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Closed on Thursdays, weekends and statutory holidays.

250-286-7150 (Campbell River)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Wellness Centre - North Island Hospital Campbell River & District - 375 2nd Avenue, Campbell River, British Columbia, V9W 3V1

Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

250-331-5964 (Courtenay)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Wellness Centre - North Island Hospital Comox Valley - 101 Lerwick Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 0B9

Hours of Operation for appointments are Monday to Wednesday, from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Drop-in Appointments available every Tuesday from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (noon). Closed on weekends and statutory holidays

250-737-2627 (Duncan)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Duncan Diabetes Education Program - 71 Government Street, Duncan, British Columbia, V9L 1A3

Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.
The Duncan Diabetes Education program serves the Cowichan area from Mill Bay to Ladysmith, including outreach to Salt Spring Island every 3-4 months.

250-956-4461 ext. 66262 (Mount Waddington Region)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Port McNeill Hospital - 2750 Kingcome Place, PO Box 548, Port McNeill, British Columbia, V0N 2R0

Hours of Operation are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

250-716-7733 (Nanaimo - Adult)

Public email: DEC.NRGH@islandhealth.ca

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Nanaimo Public Health Unit - 1665 Grant Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9S 2K4

Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

250-739-5853 (Nanaimo - Paediatric)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Pediatric Ambulatory Health Clinic - #2nd Floor, 1200 Dufferin Cresent, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9S 2B7

Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

250-951-9550 (Parksville)

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our...

Oceanside Health Centre - 489 Alberni Highway, Parksville, British Columbia, V9P 1J9

Hours of Operation are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

Cost: No cost

Referral options:

  • Health professional referral
  • Physician or nurse practitioner referral
  • Self-referral
Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Island Health:

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Availability

Service area: Alert Bay, Campbell River, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Courtenay, Duncan, Fanny Bay, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Mill Bay, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Port Alberni, Port McNeill, Qualicum Beach, Sayward, Shawnigan Lake, Sointula + show cities

Service area cities: Alert Bay, Campbell River, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Courtenay, Duncan, Fanny Bay, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Mill Bay, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Port Alberni, Port McNeill, Qualicum Beach, Sayward, Shawnigan Lake, and Sointula

Ways to Access
  • Provided 1:1 in-person
  • Provided at multiple locations
  • Provided in a group in-person

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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