What Should You Know About Diabetes?

In Canada, there are 2.4 million Canadians (6.8%) who suffer from diabetes. Do you know that there are 3 types of diabetes? The first one is known as type 1 or juvenile diabetes, because it usually appears first in children and adolescents. It occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Between 5 and 10% of diabetic people are affected by this type of diabetes.

The remaining 90% of the diabetic population have Type 2. This disease can develop at any age, but most likely during adulthood. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children. People with type 2 diabetes can produce some, but not enough insulin, the hormone that helps to regulate the amount of blood glucose or the sugar in your blood. If your blood cannot produce insulin, your blood glucose will rise. Risk factors contributing to this type of diabetes include obesity, genetics or familial (diabetic family members), being old, or having high blood pressure for long time.

Type 3 of diabetes is called gestational diabetes, which means that you may become diabetic when you are pregnant. This disease occurs during the pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin. The good news is that this condition can be managed very well with proper care so that you can have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Who should worry?

If you:

·       Are aboriginal, of African, South Asian or Hispanic descent,
·       Are overweight and carry most of the weight around your belly,
·       Have a diabetic parent, brother or sister,
·       Had a baby that weighted more than 4 kg,
·       Had gestational diabetes,
·       Have high blood pressure,
·       Have high cholesterol, 
·       Have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian cyst syndrome or schizophrenia, or

·       Breast cancer survivor, especially if treated with chemotherapy according to a new study.  

You could be at risk of developing diabetes.

Symptoms

Many people who have diabetes do not display any symptoms, but others may have frequent urination, unusual thirst, lack of energy, blurred vision, frequent infections, slow healing of cuts and bruises, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your physician will refer you to a diabetes health care team who can help you. This team could include a pharmacist, social worker, psychologist, foot care specialist, eye care specialist and an endocrinologist.

Also, you can get the support you need in your community, if you get involved in a support group.

If you cannot control your diabetes, it can give you serious complications that may lead to disability, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damages, especially in legs and feet. If you have the risk factors listed above, it may progress into worse conditions such as stroke and heart disease.

Prevention

Researchers say that a change of lifestyle can play a great role to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. You need a healthy meal plan to control your blood sugar levels and your weight. You should get plenty of exercise too. There are people with diabetes who have no complications because of their healthy lifestyle. 

Here are some tips to help you prevent or manage diabetes:

·       Attend diabetes classes that increase your knowledge of your condition,

·       Be physically active to lower your blood glucose levels, weight and stress,
·       Learn about good nutrition from a nutritionist or hospital dietician,
·       Learn about medications that control your blood glucose levels and prevent related complications, 
·       Control your blood pressure to avoid having stroke, heart and kidney diseases.

Finally, there is financial support available for diabetic supplies to low income Albertan residents. Please view the website of the Canadian Diabetes Association for more details, or call 1-800-Banting (226-8464).

Sources:

http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/programs-entry/alberta-nwt-alberta-monitoring-for-health-amfh-program/

http://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/what/facts/

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/diabetes_differences_between_type_1_and_2-health/article_em.htm

http://www.diabetes.ca/get-involved/programs-entry/alberta-nwt-alberta-monitoring-for-health-amfh-program/

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cd-mc/publications/diabetes-diabete/facts-figures-faits-chiffres-2011/highlights-saillants-eng.php#chp1

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/breast-cancer-survivors-at-higher-risk-for-diabetes/article6265926/ 

Images: 

http://www.diabetes.ca/ 

http://www.alertinstyle.com/medical-alert-diabetes/ 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/breast-cancer-survivors-at-higher-risk-for-diabetes/article6265926/ 

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/10/adherence-is-the-new-compliance.html