You check your blood sugar religiously. You count every carb. You follow the meal plan your doctor printed out.
And still your numbers swing wildly. Your energy crashes at 2 PM. You’re always thinking about food but never sure what’s actually safe to eat.
Your A1C creeps up despite your best efforts. Your doctor mentions adding another medication. You feel like you’re doing everything right, but nothing’s actually improving.
Here’s what nobody tells you: You’re not alone. According to Diabetes Canada, approximately 11.7 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes—and many struggle with blood sugar management despite their best efforts. The CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program research shows that personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58% and lower A1C by 0.5-1.5% with the right support. Generic diabetes advice doesn’t work because it doesn’t account for your unique metabolism, lifestyle, or the other factors driving your blood sugar instability.
We work with people right here in Hamilton from Westdale to the Mountain, Dundas to Stoney Creek who are tired of guessing and ready for a personalized approach that actually brings stability and freedom.
Why Counting Carbs Alone Isn’t Enough
You’ve already been told:
- “Watch your carbs”
- “Lose weight”
- “Exercise more”
- “Check your blood sugar regularly”
You’re doing all that. But your numbers still don’t make sense.
The problem isn’t that you’re not trying hard enough. It’s that blood sugar control is more complex than a simple carb count.
Your glucose levels are affected by:
- Meal timing and composition When you eat and how you combine foods matters as much as what you eat
- Sleep quality Poor sleep spikes morning blood sugar and increases insulin resistance
- Stress and cortisol Chronic stress keeps your glucose elevated even when you eat perfectly
- Inflammation and gut health Underlying inflammation makes insulin less effective
- Activity patterns Not just “exercise more” but strategic movement timing around meals
- Medication timing How and when you take your medications affects their effectiveness
- Insulin resistance patterns Understanding your body’s response to glucose and insulin
At Vicaria Health, we’re in downtown Hamilton. We see people in our office or virtually whatever works for you. Whether you’re walking over from Durand or logging in from Ancaster, we build protocols based on your specific patterns, not textbook recommendations.
Ready to gain clarity on your blood sugar management? Book a free 15-minute consultation and let’s discuss your specific situation. No commitment required.
How We Actually Help You Manage Diabetes
We use a root-cause, personalized approach built on three pillars:
Food Strategies That Work With Your Real Life No bland, restrictive meal plans you’ll hate by Wednesday. We show you how to build plates that stabilize blood sugar while including foods you actually enjoy even meals from your favorite Hamilton spots. You’ll learn meal timing, food pairing, and portion strategies that keep your glucose steady without obsessive counting.
Lifestyle Patterns That Lower Insulin Resistance Sleep quality, stress management, and movement timing all dramatically impact blood sugar. We help you optimize these factors so your body becomes more insulin-sensitive and your medications work better. Small shifts in your daily rhythm can drop your A1C by a full point or more.
Nervous System Regulation to Break the Stress-Sugar Cycle Chronic stress keeps your blood sugar elevated no matter how perfectly you eat. We teach you practical nervous system tools that lower cortisol, improve sleep, and help your body actually use insulin effectively. This is the piece most diabetes programs completely miss.
What Makes Vicaria Health Different
- Personalized to your patterns We analyze your actual blood sugar data and build your protocol around what’s happening in your body, not generic guidelines
- Evidence-based nutrition We use proven strategies for blood sugar stabilization and insulin sensitivity
- Continuous glucose monitoring support If you use a CGM, we help you interpret the data and adjust in real-time
- Type 1 and Type 2 expertise We work with both types of diabetes and prediabetes
- Medication-informed We understand how your medications work and optimize nutrition timing around them
- Local to Hamilton Based in downtown Hamilton, serving the whole city and surrounding areas
- Work alongside your doctor We complement your medical care and communicate with your healthcare team
This Might Be for You If…
- You have Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and want to manage it naturally
- You’re on medication but want to reduce your dose (with your doctor’s guidance)
- Your blood sugar swings unpredictably and you can’t figure out why
- You’re tired of restrictive diets that don’t actually improve your A1C
- Your energy crashes throughout the day despite eating “right”
- You want to prevent diabetes complications and take control now
- You’re ready to invest in real solutions instead of just managing symptoms
We work with people from all over Hamilton and the surrounding areas Dundas, Waterdown, Binbrook, Stoney Creek, Burlington. If you can get to downtown Hamilton or hop on a video call, we can work together.
Questions You Probably Have
Will this replace my medication? No. We work alongside your doctor, not instead of them. Many of our clients eventually reduce their medication dosages with their physician’s approval as their blood sugar stabilizes and insulin sensitivity improves. But that’s a decision you make with your doctor we never touch your medications.
Do you work with Type 1 diabetes? Yes. While Type 1 requires insulin, we help optimize meal timing, carb counting accuracy, insulin-to-carb ratios, and lifestyle factors that affect insulin sensitivity. Many Type 1 clients see more stable glucose patterns and reduced insulin requirements.
How fast will I see results? Most people notice more stable energy and fewer blood sugar swings within 2-3 weeks. A1C changes take 8-12 weeks to show up on lab work since it reflects a 3-month average. Consistency is key this isn’t a quick fix, but sustainable change that lasts.
What if I’m prediabetic, not diabetic yet? Perfect. This is the ideal time to intervene. With the right nutrition and lifestyle changes, many people reverse prediabetes and never progress to full diabetes. Prevention is way easier than management. If you’re specifically focused on prediabetes reversal, our Prediabetes Nutrition Support program specializes in that exact transition.
Do I have to give up all the foods I love? No. We don’t do deprivation diets. You’ll learn how to include foods you enjoy while keeping blood sugar stable. It’s about strategy food pairing, portion awareness, timing not restriction.
How much time does this take? We meet once a week for 30-45 minutes. The changes you make don’t add hours to your day they replace habits you’re already doing. Small tweaks, not a life overhaul.
What about continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)? If you have one, we can use your CGM data to fine-tune your protocol in real-time. If you don’t, we can guide you on whether getting one would be helpful or work with traditional finger-stick readings.
Will you talk to my doctor? Absolutely. We encourage it. Many of our clients share their progress with their doctors, and most physicians are thrilled to see genuine improvement. We’re happy to communicate with your healthcare team.
What if I’ve already tried everything? Good. That means you know what doesn’t work. Most people who come to us have tried multiple approaches without lasting success. The difference here is we don’t do cookie-cutter protocols we build something specific to your metabolism, patterns, and life.
Investment in Your Diabetes Management
Our health coaching packages are designed to give you the sustained support needed for real, lasting blood sugar control.
Health Coaching Packages:
- 3-Session Package: $240 CAD - Perfect for getting started with blood sugar stabilization strategies
- 6-Session Package: $450 CAD - Comprehensive support with CGM analysis and ongoing adjustments (Most Popular)
- 12-Session Program: $840 CAD - Full transformation for complex diabetes management needs
All packages include personalized meal protocols, email support between sessions, blood sugar pattern analysis, and medication-timing optimization guidance. Many extended health insurance plans cover consultations with Registered Nutritional Practitioners.
View full pricing details | Book free consultation
Let’s Talk
We’ll talk about where you’re at, what you’re hoping for, and whether this approach makes sense for you.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a real conversation about what’s possible.
Vicaria Health is located in downtown Hamilton and serves clients throughout the city including Westdale, Dundas, Ancaster, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Binbrook, and Burlington. We offer both in-person sessions at our downtown location and virtual coaching for your convenience.
Ready to stop guessing and start living with confidence?
About the Author
Dr. Yamilet Pina
MD, Certified Health Coach (IIN)
Medical doctor with over 20 years of experience in Integrative General Medicine and Urology. Certified Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York.