October tends to be the month of harvest festivals held to celebrate our farms and farmers for the food they provide. October is also the month where we give thanks and reflect on what we’re appreciative of in our lives. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. With all of the turmoil in the world, we have to be thankful that we live in this beautiful country called Canada. I am thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life, and that includes my clients!

Diabetes and pre-diabetes are on the rise in Canada. More than 9% of Canadians are diabetic and another 22% meet the diagnostic criteria for pre-diabetes. While medication may be necessary to manage blood sugar, increasing evidence supports lifestyle measures to treat and even reverse the disease. Wellness Garage offers an 8-week, evidence-based, diabetes reversal program aimed at changing the lifestyle behaviours that can reverse the process underlying diabetes. Our physician-led program will teach you a powerful model to understand diabetes and learn what concrete measures you can take to control diabetes and reverse its progression.

Did you know that the Canadian Mental Health Association has information online regarding different mental health issues? As well, your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch can answer any questions you may have and provide services to the public. Workshops and courses are another great way to learn about these issues. The Canadian Mental Health Association along with other organizations in your community offer this service. Research what organizations are around you and call them to find out times, dates and whether courses are available for free at a cost. Visit your local library to take advantage of free resources or head to a bookstore or shop online to purchase.

We have all experienced pain at some point during our life. But there are some people for whom pain is a daily burden that doesn’t seem to go away. For those people, it is important to find a practitioner who has extensive experience in assessing and treating acute and chronic pain conditions. It doesn’t matter if your pain is from joints, muscles, nerves, organs, emotional trauma, or even an unknown origin, there is almost always something that can be done to decrease or remove the pain. Get a thorough assessment that can uncover previously overlooked or misunderstood aspects contributing to your problem.

Total knee replacement is the most definitive treatment for advanced osteoarthritis. This procedure is typically done in a hospital setting, with 3-5 days of hospital stay. In recent years, it has become clear that healthy individuals can be discharged from the hospital on the day of their surgery, to safely and conveniently recover at home. Having surgery done at a medical centre provides a welcome alternative to hospitals. This can help reduce complications associated with hospitalization, and for many patients, the convenience and comfort of being at home with family is much preferred over the rustle and bustle of a busy surgical ward.

Modern life is filled with opportunities that cause misalignment in the joints of the spine. Sitting, bending, lifting, trauma, and poor posture while using computers and mobile phones can all cause strain on the neck and back. This strain can damage the soft tissues of the spine, including the delicate nervous system that is housed within. So, what happens when your spine becomes misaligned? Neck pain, back pain, headaches, sciatica, and more. But sometimes pain doesn’t occur until the damage accumulates. Chiropractic can help to gently re-align, reduce strain, and restore function to this delicate spinal system. When was the last time you had your spine examined by a doctor of chiropractic?