World Health Day Focusing On Diabetes

For the first time, World Health Day on April 7th, will focus on diabetes. People with diabetes play a critical role in ensuring the best health outcomes with the disease. Working closely with their health-care team, they manage blood sugar levels, foot care, eye care, physical activity and healthy eating. World Health Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of self-managing diabetes.
In Canada, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions according to the Canadian Diabetes Association–with an estimated 11 million people living with diabetes or prediabetes. Another Canadian is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes.
Diabetes increases a person’s risk for many serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure leading to dialysis, and blindness. However, many people with diabetes go on to live full and active lives.
“People with diabetes play a critical role in ensuring the best health outcomes with the disease. Working closely with their health-care team, they manage blood sugar levels, foot care, eye care, physical activity and healthy eating,” says Dr. Jan Hux, chief science officer at the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). “Self-management is the cornerstone of diabetes care and people affected by it need the knowledge and skills to properly manage diabetes.”
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 19 years old, Tammy Norris, 52, a self-employed property leasing agent from Red Deer, Alta. explains how diabetes has impacted her life and why daily management of her diabetes is essential to her health. One of the challenges she experienced when diagnosed was trying to figure out what she could and could not eat and in general all the dos and don’ts of the disease. From her experiences, she learned that you can manage your diabetes with a positive attitude. As an active mother of two daughters and an active nana of four grandchildren, Tammy uses a combination of insulin, physical activity and diet to manage her diabetes.
“To live the very best life that I can live and maintain good health, I check my blood glucose levels and take good care of my skin and feet,” says Tammy. “You need to manage your disease and not let the disease manage you.”
“World Health Day to me means a day to acknowledge diabetes and know that you can still have a full and wonderful life with the disease,” adds Tammy.
Some tips to keep on top of your diabetes include: taking action to learn as much as possible and using diabetes programs and services when needed; setting your targets and goals to maintain optimal average (A1C) and daily blood sugar levels; performing self-checks for foot problems; and scheduling regular eye exams. For more information, visit diabetes.ca/take charge.
The main types of diabetes are:
Type 1 – occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, a hormone that controls the level of sugar in the blood. The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown and it is not preventable. It most commonly begins in childhood and occurs when a person’s immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It is found in five to 10 per cent of Canadians with diabetes.
Type 2 – occurs when the pancreas either cannot effectively use or produce enough insulin. The causes of type 2 diabetes can be genetic, behavioural and/or environmental. It usually develops in adulthood, although more children and adolescents are being diagnosed. It is found in approximately 90 per cent of Canadians living with diabetes.
Prediabetes – occurs when an individual’s blood sugar levels are elevated, but not yet high enough to be type 2 diabetes. About half of those with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes.
The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) is the registered national charity that helps the 11 million Canadians with diabetes or prediabetes live healthy lives, and educates those at risk. In communities across Canada, the CDA:
• offers educational programs and support services;
• develops resources to health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes;
• advocates with those affected by diabetes to governments, schools and workplaces; and,
• Funds research to improve treatments and find a cure.
For more information, visit www.diabetes.ca or call 1-800-226-8464.