Today there is a big topic-how to reduce risks of getting diabetes?
The number of people with diabetes is rising.More than two million Canadians have the disease.Diabetes can often start slowly with few or no symptoms for many years.
Untreated diabetes can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease,blindness,loss of limbs and kidney disease.
There is a lot that can be done to prevent this serious disease or reduce the risk of health problems.
Diabetes affects the body's ability to use the energy we get from food.Glucose is a type of sugar that our body uses as energy.The body changes food into glucose so that it can use it for energy.Glucose is found in the blood after eating a meal.Insulin is a hormone made by the body.It helps glucose move into cells so that it can be used as energy.Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not make enough insulin or can not use the insulin it makes.
There are three types of diabetes-type 1 diabetes,gestational diabetes,and type 2 diabetes.Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person's body can't make insulin or doesn't make enough insulin.Type 1 affects 10% of people with diabetes.It is usually diagnosed during childhood.People with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections.Gestational diabetes can happen during pregnancy.It affects 3-4% of pregnant women.Many women can control this through diet and exercise,but some need to take insulin.Gestational diabetes goes away when the baby is born,but both the women and her baby are more at risk of getting type 2 diabetes later on in life.There is little that can be done to prevent type 1 and gestational diabetes.Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body makes insulin but can't use it properly,or the amount of insulin is too small to help the body.It usually occurs in adults over 40,but rates are rising in younger people and even in children.This type of diabetes can be managed through changes to lifestyle habits,but many need pill or insulin injections.
People are over 40,overweight or carrying most of your weight around your middle,a member of a high risk group-aboriginal,African,Asian,Hispanic or South Asian descent are the risk factors.
Also having a family history of diabetes,given birth to a baby weighs over 4kgs or a history of gestational diabetes,glucose tolerance or fasting glucose levels outside of the normal range,high blood pressure,cholesterol,heart disease,health concerns ralated to diabetes such as eye,nerve,or kidney problems.
Others risks including being diagnosed with schizophrenia,polysystic ovary syndrome,acanthosis nigricans(darkened patches of skin)
Healthy eating and physical activity are important steps you can take to help you live a healthy life and prevent disease.
There are some of the symptoms to be aware of diabetes-being very thirsty,losing or gaining weight,blurred vision,numbness/tingling in hands of feet,urinating often,feeling very tired,lack of energy,frequent or recurring infections,slow healing cuts or sores.
some other sources of information
wwww.diabetes.ca
health Canada-www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english
www.canadian-health-network.ca
