Sun Life Financial announced on May 14 a $750,000 commitment to Sinai Health System to launch the Sun Life Financial Program to Prevent Diabetes in Women. The program aims to help prevent type 2 diabetes in women after childbirth.

"The Sun Life Financial Program to Prevent Diabetes in Women has the ability to alter the course of type 2 diabetes for women whose risk has increased because of their diagnosis during pregnancy," said Linda Dougherty, executive vice-president, corporate strategy and global marketing, Sun Life Financial. "We are thrilled to be at the forefront of post-natal diabetes care through our global commitment to diabetes and to be working with Sinai Health System to ensure a healthy future for women."

Risk assessment tools

The program aims to develop a risk calculator and risk assessment tools that will screen, monitor for and prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes after childbirth for a pilot group of women affected by gestational diabetes. A nurse practitioner will be hired for the program. 

"These funds will help us develop better screening and monitoring tools and provide more opportunities to intervene post-pregnancy," said Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, endocrinologist at The Leadership Centre for Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Diabetes is a progressive disease and these tools will help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in women."