TORONTO — Over the coming months, Canadian mass merchandise chain Zellers plans to host on-site screening and educational programs for people living with or at risk for diabetes.

Over the coming months, Canadian mass merchandise chain Zellers plans to host on-site screening and educational programs for people living with or at risk for diabetes.

The Hudson’s Bay Co. subsidiary on Tuesday unveiled an alliance with the Canadian Diabetes Care Guide, an organization that provides education programs and resources to people affected by diabetes. The partnership involves diabetes education centers, certified diabetes educators and Zellers pharmacists.

In Zellers stores, pharmacies will provide a variety of educational tools and information on diabetes in easy-to-access, understandable formats, the retailer said. One tool is a "portion control plate" that indicates the proper portion size and how the various food groups should be combined to create a healthy, nutritious meal.

Other resources include a testing tool to help identify loss of sensation, common in people with diabetes, that will be available this summer. Patients also can obtain a convenient home-sized copy of the portion control guide, the sensation testing kit and a number of other educational tools by visiting their local Zellers pharmacy.

"Pharmacists are an underutilized healthcare resource," Lori Fasano, general merchandising manager for Zellers Pharmacies, said in a statement. "Zellers pharmacists are at the frontlines of patient care and are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to help patients manage diabetes and make smart choices to diminish risks and delay or prevent the development of complications."

It’s estimated that more than 3 million Canadians currently have diabetes, and another 6 million are prediabetic, according to Zellers.

"Zellers recognizes the valuable role diabetes educators play in helping people with diabetes," stated Alan Donaldson of the Canadian Diabetes Care Guide. "Learning how to manage diabetes and lead a healthy lifestyle can be complex and time-consuming. It is our hope that this partnership and the resources provided can help reduce diabetes-related health complications."

Zellers has 279 stores across Canada and most have pharmacies except in Quebec, where only a handful of locations include a pharmacy department.