- An online community that delivers the first national Web directory of health services, trustworthy knowledge and the power of social networking to those interested in self-managing their health
TORONTO, ON – UNITED NATIONS, WORLD DIABETES DAY - November 14, 2007 –
Wellocities, a joint effort by people living with diabetes, scientists, health professionals and business leaders was released today across Canada. Now, Canadians have a quick, free and easy way to find out where they are, what they need, and who can help them on their journey with diabetes.
Barbara Pasternak, Founder and Chair of the Diabetes Hope Foundation uses Wellocities and feels that it will touch many lives. “Being able to instantly share health experiences, knowledge and resources with others who are affected by diabetes will have a profound impact on access to services and information that affect their quality of life,” she said.
Today, nearly 2 million known Canadians are affected by diabetes and at least 20% more remain undiagnosed. According to a recent study, diabetes is rapidly becoming a pandemic with one-third of individuals born after 2000 expected to be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lives. Diabetes and other chronic diseases now affect nearly 40 per cent of the Canadian population and consume up to 70% of the country’s annual health care budget.
“As the Canadian population ages, the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes is becoming a tremendous challenge to health care systems and society as a whole,” said Dr. Peter Sargious, Co-Chair of the Canadian Chronic Care Network and attending physician in the Calgary Health Region’s Diabetes Education Centre. “Wellocities expands the community of support for individuals and families looking to improve their health and well-being - and extends the capacity of health care teams to help them.”
“We still do not have a cure for diabetes. Therefore, it is essential for people living with this disease to be able to manage it every day, with as much wisdom and support as possible. Wellocities’s mission is to become the destination for Canadians interested in self-managing their health,” said Dr. Alex Jadad, Wellocities’s Chairman, and long-time public advocate, physician and world-renowned innovator on public empowerment efforts. “Thanks to the internet, we can now be in control of decisions about our own health and well-being, personally or in partnership with health professionals.”
Wellocities is designed to fuel this transformation. It brings to people affected by diabetes:
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Most importantly, Wellocities can be accessed conveniently through other social networking sites such as Facebook, which is now Canada’s leading Web destination and part of many Canadians’ daily routines. There are at least 57 groups related to Canadian diabetes among 6 million active Facebook users in Canada today.
“Wellocities is designed by patients and health professionals for patients and their caregivers,” said Dr. Amol Deshpande, Chief Medical Officer at Wellocities. “As a resource, it will continue to be developed, refined, and enhanced and improved constantly by its community.”
Wellocities is a free service supported by online revenues from the presentation to users of information about people, places and services (e.g., medications, devices, consumer goods), and other products relevant to their health and well-being.
Canadians Express Support for Wellocities
Numerous Canadians, individuals and health professionals, are expressing their support for Wellocities and its social networking aim to help individuals meet their health challenges.
- Dr. Brendan Carr, Vice President Medicine, Capital Health, Halifax
"Capital Health has begun a journey to transform the way we deliver healthcare from a provider-focused system to one that is collaborative - where we work with our citizens to help them achieve their best health outcomes. We know that this is a significant shift in the way we do our work, and we must be open to new ways to connect with our citizens. Social networking technologies, like many other aspects of Web 2.0, are opening up new opportunities for the healthcare sector that we are only now beginning to explore. That is why we are very excited about working with Wellocities."
- Lorraine Anderson, TRIDEC Diabetes Education Centre, Toronto
"At TRIDEC we see our clients as experts in their own care who are empowered to set their own goals, make choices and experiment with management options with our support. As a dietitian with diabetes myself, I've experienced first-hand the benefits of group programs and networking opportunities to receive timely information about the latest in diabetes management tools and services. With Wellocities we can now perpetuate this effort through online conversations and experience sharing, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
- Dianne Lehman, Executive Producer, Diabetes Compass Radio, Edmonton
“Congratulations are in order toward the caring, clever staff at Wellocities for this impressive resource. This is a tremendous tool for persons living with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes and those of you who are caregivers for loved ones who have diabetes. Diabetes can be a struggle at times but please know that you are not alone. I encourage you to visit your doctor every three months (if you live with Type 2), meet with a health team regularly and reach out to expert, reliable resources such as Wellocities.”
- Larry Millson, Reporter, Globe and Mail, Toronto
“As an individual affected by diabetes I often feel the need to reach out to find new ways to improve my ability to maximize my active living with diabetes. Wellocities is the best way to network with others and focus on the positive side of sharing experiences and feeling good about doing so. Wellocities is my home base for managing my health.”
About Wellocities
Designed by patients and health professionals for patients and their caregivers the site offers tools to monitor, share, and transform health experiences.
Wellocities empowers consumers to take action, offering alternatives and informed choices about their health, and access to resources with which to increase their chances of living a long and healthy life. Wellocities is a new Canadian Web 2.0 health start-up incubated by XDL Capital Group. For more information please visit www.wellocities.com.
© 2007 Wellocities Corporation. All Rights Reserved.