Type Diabeat It helping BIPOC individuals [Video]

In a small greenhouse on Exeter Road in London, Ont., a non-profit organization for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals stay connected to their culture, but also manage their health.

“We’ve been able to cultivate a lot of okra, collard greens, callaloo, which not only to help reduce blood sugars, but also the cultural competency for families from Africa, the Middle East, India, Central America and the Caribbean,” said Mystery Furtado, CEO of Type Diabeat it.

The charity focuses on BIPOC diabetics, addressing food insecurity, access culturally fresh produce, and managing their diagnoses.

“We target people of colour because their numbers [of diabetics] is significantly higher in this community. In the most recent statistics 8.2 per cent of BIPOC individuals have diabetes comparted to four per cent,” said Furtado, who has a background in nursing and as a clinical educator. “Diabetes doesn’t care what skin colour you are.”

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