Federal Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced Tuesday June 25, in Brampton that the Public Health Agency of Canada will invest up to $4.5 million over four years in LMC Healthcare’s Diabetes Prevention Program — to support people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

In collaboration with Diabetes Canada and INTERVENT International (a global lifestyle management and chronic disease risk reduction company based in the United States), LMC will deliver an evidenced-based 12-month program in Alberta, Ont. and Quebec, for people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, including people diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

The program hopes to reach as many as 3,850 participants from doctor referrals or by connecting with people who have been assessed by the Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire.

The program, which promotes physical activity and provides dietary education, will begin enrolling participants in the summer of 2019.

About one in nine adults aged 20 and older — or approximately three million Canadians — lives with diagnosed diabetes, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Approximately 90 per cent of these cases are Type 2 diabetes, which is a preventable form of diabetes for many Canadians.

Program participants will be supported through intensive and structured lifestyle changes.

The program consists of regular interactions with a personal health coach, online education resources, group workshops, and health tracking to help participants make small, incremental changes in their diet and physical activity that will reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

“To help address diabetes in Canada, it is important that we provide supportive social and physical environments to help foster and maintain positive lifestyle changes,” said Canada Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, in a statement.

“The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be reduced. Through LMC’s Diabetes Prevention Program, people at high risk of developing this disease will be given the tools and support they need to help them modify their lifestyle,” said Tam.