Empowering Indigenous people living with diabetes through culturally safe virtual diabetes care and education.
The Diabetes Specialist Doctor is knowledgeable about diabetes and can help with the treatment and management of diabetes.
The CDE can provide diabetes education and support the client with their diabetes self- management.
Our friendly team is here to provide you with compassionate care, ensuring that you feel heard, understood, and respected.
To refer your clients to a diabetes specialist doctor (endocrinologist), a CDE, or to join our group classes, please fax a referral form to
(587) 760-4567.
The diabetes care team will get to know the client and explain what to expect during their initial appointment.
Clients will meet with an endocrinologist or the CDE via zoom or phone.
The endocrinologist and/or CDE will provide ongoing care.
The online sessions are designed to support clients with diabetes self-management.
Learn about diabetes and how it affects health in major ways.
Learn about the complications of diabetes, and how different screening tools work to help reduce complications.
Learn about the different types of medications used to treat diabetes.
Learn how different foods affect blood sugars, and how managing diabetes well can improve your life.
OKAKI’s Diabetes Virtual Care Clinic (ODVCC) is working to empower Indigenous community members living with diabetes. ODVCC aims to provide access to culturally safe virtual diabetes care and education for Indigenous people living with diabetes. The ODVCC consists of diabetes specialists, certified diabetes educators and other allied health professionals.
Yes, referrals are accepted from family doctors, nurse practitioners, or registered nurses directly, for those who do not have access to a family doctor.
The ODVCC will provide virtual consultation and follow-up by physicians who specialize in diabetes.
This service targets any self-identifying Indigenous person or family member and any person living in or working in or around a First Nation or Metis settlement in Alberta with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes or diabetes.
Virtual care is the delivery of medical services over the internet or phone, rather than in person.
To see the diabetes specialist, have your primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse) fill out the referral form and fax to (587)-760-4567. To access the educational classes and a certified diabetes educator send an email to virtualcare@okaki.com or call (587)-882-4477.
Any self-identifying Indigenous person, and those accessing health services in an Alberta Indigenous community/settlement.
No, we can conduct appointments over the phone if you do not have access to video conferencing.
Yes, you can still access the certified diabetes educator and receive one on one diabetes education and/or group education support.
Our medical office assistant is available Monday to Friday 0900h – 1600h and can be reached at (587)-882-4477 or via email at virtualcare@okaki.com
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care...
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care...
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care...
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care...
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care...
My name is Misty Fraser and I have been the Medical Office Assistant for the OKAKI Virtual Diabetes Clinic since January 2022. I have worked at a First Nation medical clinic...
Hello! I have worked as a dietitian specializing in diabetes management for the past 6 years, with a focus on improving access to care in Indigeous Communities for the past 2 years....
Tansi, my name is Kari Meneen and I am from Tallcree First Nation located in Treaty 8 territory. I am married and a proud mother to three daughters and one fur son.
I graduated from the University of Toronto medical school in 1995. I then moved to Edmonton where I completed my training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the University of Alberta...
I am a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator. I began my career working on various surgical units and have done some casual work in Public Health, but my passion has always been in Chronic Disease Management.
I have been a dietitian since 2012 and been working in diabetes since 2014, with most of this time spent as a member of the Kainai diabetes team.
Hello! I graduated from the University of Alberta and have practiced as a Registered Dietitian for the past 3 years. Before my current role as a diabetes educator with the OKAKI Virtual Diabetes Clinic,
Diabetes Virtual Care Clinic Services , spearheaded by Kari Meneen RN, CDE have proven to be a success for Bigstone Health commission. The Clinic has reduced long-standing barriers,such transportation for in-person appointments and drastically cut back on the 6-12 month wait time to see an Endocrinologist.
Registered Dietician
I love this Virtual Diabetes Clinic because it is so easy and Dr Li is awesome and so are her nurses. Makes it easy for my mom and I and we don’t have to travel to Edmonton. We love it.
Client
Just wanted to use this opportunity to say thank you for the review sessions. The chance to discuss questions and brainstorm cases with other people was very helpful.
Pharmacist
I was well taken care of and the personnel would call periodically to check-in with me.
Client
Living in a small town there’s not much resources and I like how I don’t have to leave my house for appointments.
Client
Very happy with the care; team is very compassionate.
Client
Hello, I am from Strathmore, Alberta but now live on a farm south of town. Over the course of my career, I have worked in pediatrics, public health, emergency and primary care. I am currently working with OKAKI as a Diabetes Educator. Since 2017, I have been working in chronic disease management for clients living in rural and remote regions of Alberta. I received my Certified Diabetes Educator certificate last year and that has helped me continue to support clients in their management of diabetes. Where you live should not be a detriment to receiving good health care, and I am proud to be part of a team that strives to bridge that gap. I received my Bachelor of Nursing from Athabasca University in 2005. I am married to Rob, and we have two great kids, Hannah and Jack, along with two happy dogs, Max and Aussie. I love to read, play slo- pitch, and watch sports.
My name is Misty Fraser, and I have been the Medical Office Assistant for the OKAKI Virtual Diabetes Clinic since January 2022. I have worked at a First Nation medical clinic and have been working as a Medical Office Assistant for the past two years. I received my Medical Office Assistant certificate from Norquest College in 2020. One of the highlights of working with OKAKI is being able to reach clients in rural and urban locations. I enjoy working with our clients and that OKAKI offers many different options to educate themselves on their diabetes journey.
Hello! I have worked as a dietitian specializing in diabetes management for the past 6 years, with a focus on improving access to care in Indigenous communities for the past 2 years. I currently work as a diabetes care coordinator with the RADAR team (Reorganizing the Approach to Diabetes through the Application of Registries), alongside my role as a certified diabetes educator with the OKAKI Virtual Diabetes Care Clinic. These roles allow me to work with health care providers, people living with diabetes, and their families and support systems. My primary passion is supporting people living with diabetes to understand the relationship between food, movement, and medication, empowering them to manage their chronic condition in a realistic and sustainable way. My goal is to make diabetes education engaging, approachable, and even fun! I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science and have completed a dietetic internship to complete my licensing as a dietitian. I am also a certified insulin pump trainer and have special interest in technology for diabetes management. When not working, you can find me exploring the Millcreek Ravine with my husband, daughter, and dog, or experimenting with new recipes in my kitchen.
I graduated from the University of Toronto medical school in 1995.
I then moved to Edmonton where I completed my training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the University of Alberta. I have been practicing as a community endocrinologist in Alberta since 2003, and joined the OKAKI program in 2021. I enjoy working with the team to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care to individuals with diabetes.
Tansi, my name is Kari Meneen and I am from Tallcree First Nation located in Treaty 8 territory. I am married and a proud mother to three daughters and one fur son.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from Concordia University College (2005), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Alberta (2010) and a Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University (2018).
For the last 12 years, I have worked in various First Nation communities as a Home Care Nurse, Retinal Photographer, Diabetes Educator and Care Coordinator. In my current role, I support patients, families, frontline nurses and community health workers in improving diabetes care and health outcomes as the Program Lead for OKAKI’s Diabetes program.
I am passionate about improving access to diabetes care and providing culturally safe diabetes care and education for Indigenous peoples living with diabetes.