SURREY, B.C. – Medtronic Canada has announced the grand opening of its first Canadian Medtronic Resource Centre in support of patients living with diabetes, in Surrey, BC, and the surrounding area. The centre will be located in the Health and Technology District, near Surrey Memorial Hospital.

The centre will provide a dedicated location where Medtronic will offer education, support, and other resources as an extension of what Medtronic currently offers to local healthcare professionals.

“It’s intended to be able to provide support in between clinic visits,” said Laura Cameron director of Medtronic Canada’s Diabetes Group. “To allow them to better utilize their technology so that they can have better support in managing their diabetes.”

The goal, she noted, is to “elevate their ability to manage their disease and as a result, have better outcomes and fewer complications.”

The new centre will offer insulin pump classes, lessons on CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) and it will educate patients on carb counting and best travel practices.

The centre, within the Innovation Boulevard health tech district, will also provide networking opportunities and one-on-one time with certified insulin pump trainers.

Cameron said Surrey was chosen as the location for their centre because of the high prevalence of diabetes in the city, and all of Fraser Health.

It’s estimated that 29 percent of British Columbians (or 1.5 million people) have either diabetes or “pre-diabetes.” Over the last decade, the province has seen a 74 percent spike in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes and by 2027, it’s projected to grow by another 44 percent.

According to Fraser Health, Surrey and Abbotsford have the largest proportion of diabetics within its region, which the health authority says may be due to the large South Asian populations living there.

“This centre has been much anticipated as a real-world solution to a real-world problem, offering care of our clients on an intensive insulin regimen using Medtronic insulin pump technology,” said Dr. Chris Mahony, diabetes specialist in Surrey, BC. “This establishment will raise the bar to a new level of support for our patients with diabetes.”

About Medtronic
Medtronic Canada (www.medtronic.ca), headquartered in Brampton, Ontario is a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, which is one of the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 88,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.