PW Test | Small Steps for Big Changes

Small Steps for Big Changes

Condition Specific Support and Social / Recreational

Provided by University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO)

A lifestyle counselling program that can help people make lasting dietary and exercise changes.

Small Steps for Big Changes is an evidence-based lifestyle program designed to help people make lasting lifestyle changes to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The primary purpose of Small Steps for Big Changes is to help individuals make changes to their exercise and diet and to stick to these changes long-term.

Small Steps for Big Changes is a personalized, one-on-one, 3-week training and counselling program. Individuals will engage in exercise and one-on-one counselling sessions and practice making changes at home throughout these three weeks. Individuals will participate in various types of aerobic exercise, including exercise at a steady pace for 20-30 minutes, and interval exercise that involves alternating between bouts of up to 1 minute of brisk activity and 1 minute of light activity for 12-15 minutes.

The program is free and is offered on a monthly basis at the Kelowna Downtown YMCA.

Patients are eligible if they are between the ages of 18 and older and at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. They must also be able to read and comprehend English and have a BMI between 25 and 40 kg/m2.

There are two ways you can refer your patients to this program:

Order a blood requisition for hemoglobin A1c for those patients who may be at risk of T2D. Valley Medical Laboratories will fax you a list of your patients whose HbA1c scores fall within the prediabetic range (5.7 to 6.4 mmol/L) just as they do when informing you of your patients who fall within the diabetic range. You will be asked to provide your consent on which patients you feel it would be appropriate to send a simple letter of information about the Small Steps for Big Changes program in the mail and fax that list back to Valley Medical Laboratories. In turn, Valley Medical Laboratories will mail out information letters about the program to only those whom you have deemed appropriate to receive this hard-copy letter.
Verbally encourage those patients whom you think may benefit from this exercise and diet counselling intervention to visit this website and complete the ADA screen online. Those interested in finding out more about the program should be encouraged to contact the Small Steps for Big Changes program staff.

250-807-8419

Public email: smallsteps.bigchanges@ubc.ca

Website: http://ok-smallsteps.sites.olt.ubc.ca/

#UCH 105, 1238 Discovery Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7

Service is available in English.

Cost: No cost

Referral options: