Profile Name: Heather Corbett Occupation: Registered Nurse, Certified Diabetes Educator

Heather's story

HSSeather Corbett currently works as a diabetes nurse educator in the Diabetes Education Program of Ottawa-Carleton. She provides basic information about Type 2 diabetes, which both her father and brother have.

In her nursing career, Heather has always enjoyed the health education and promotion aspect of her work, especially with regard to Type 2 diabetes. There is no doubt that Canadians have much to learn about Type 2 diabetes as more and more Canadians are being diagnosed with the disease at a younger and younger age, yet few know a great deal about it.

People come to Heather when they are first diagnosed with diabetes full of fear, anxiety and concerns about what it means for them. They come totally overwhelmed, thinking they have to change everything at once. She empowers them by providing them with the necessary information, skills and tools they need to make informed, manageable choices that will help them live well with diabetes.    

Ninety-five to ninety-nine percent of diabetes care is self-care.  Heather tells people with diabetes that health care professionals are there to provide them with information and support, but they are the ones who are in control. They decide how they are going to eat, whether they will be active, whether they will test their blood sugar levels, whether they will take their medication, etc.

Some of the topics covered by Heather include: what is diabetes, how to take care, eating with diabetes, activity, self-monitoring of blood glucose, managing stress, reducing risk of long-term complications and foot care. 

Heather also does a lot of myth busting, "A lot has changed over the past few years. It all really comes down to healthy lifestyles. There is no special diet for people with Type 2 diabetes.  It does not have to be restrictive.  Every Canadian should be eating healthy foods and trying to be active."