November 14 is World Diabetes Day, a day to raise awareness of diabetes and an opportunity to learn how to prevent diabetes. This year has great significance as we mark the 90th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients, by Sir Frederick Banting, He along with Drs. Best, John Macleod and James Collip, co discovered insulin. What a discovery! We are proud of our fellow Canadians and their gift of insulin to the world. Insulin is an amazing discovery that has saved the lives of many individuals.

Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes - a condition that, if left unchecked, puts you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  This means that nearly 1 in 4 Canadians either has diabetes or prediabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 if no changes are made to reduce the risks of diabetes.  

The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rising dramatically due to a number of factors:

 

• An aging population - the risk of developing type 2 diabetes rises with age;
 

• Rising obesity rates - obesity dramatically increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes;
 

• Increasingly sedentary lifestyles are contributing to rising obesity rates, particularly in younger Canadians, which can lead to type 2 diabetes;
 

• People of Aboriginal descent are 3 to 5 times more likely than the general population to develop type 2 diabetes; and
 

• Almost 80% of new Canadians are from populations that have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. These include people of Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, or African descent.

The serious complications
Diabetes is a condition that must be taken seriously as it can, if not well managed, lead to serious complications and premature death:

·         80% of Canadians with diabetes die from a heart attack or a stroke;

·         42% of new kidney dialysis patients in 2004 had diabetes.

·         Diabetes is the single leading cause of blindness in Canada;

·         7 of 10 non-traumatic limb amputations are the result of diabetes complications;

·         25% of people with diabetes suffer from depression

Time for action

One step at a time you can start the journey to either reduce your risk of diabetes or to manage diabetes if you have it. That may include making lifestyle changes that are challenging at first but over time will become easier. Consider these simple steps to help reduce your diabetes risk.

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle: If above a healthy weight, lose 5% of your body weight to decrease risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by as much as 60%.

2. Eat a healthy diet by following Canada’s Food Guide: Emphasize vegetables, fruit, whole grains and high fibre foods.

3. Get regular physical activity: 30 – 60 minutes a day, most days of the week.

4. Be smoke free.

For more information on prevention of or management of diabetes please contact: Brandon Regional Health Authority’s Diabetes and Heart Health Promotion program @ 578-2370

Adapted from diabetes.ca

Click to e-mail this to a friend