Last weekend as my parents were testing their blood glucose, I informed them that my next column will be on diabetes, since November was Diabetes Awareness Month.
Upon hearing that my father was reminded that he had a doctor’s appointment because of his high sugar. He recalled that in his heart he always suspected that he would one day end up having diabetes since both his parents had it, but still being told that he has it, came as quite a shock. He said he stayed in denial for quite some time.
Both my parents are diabetic. My father found about his condition in his late 40s and a decade later my mother found out that she had it too. Over the years my parents’ have realized that it is important to take care of their diabetes, to avoid other health problems in the future.
Studies show that if someone in your family has type 2 diabetes, you are at increased risk of also developing the condition. Having known this for years and being a South Asian (the population at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes), I have always been fearful of it’s inevitability in my life. Working in the health field and having talked to many about their ill-health has made me more conscientious of my diet and lifestyle, but somewhere deep down I still wonder if diabetes is just around the corner waiting to wrap me in its dark cloak.
Almost four million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes, and many more are unaware they have the disease. The number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, continues to rise.
The answer to the dramatic and consistently increasing rates can be attributed to the way we are living our lives. As a society, we have become less active and our meals are less nutritious, usually high in fat, sugar and salt. Our diet lacks the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables which is important to maintain health. These can have an impact on our weight and our health, resulting in the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
It takes a while to really come to terms with any chronic condition and to understand the best course to manage it. I decided to do some research and look for the simplest of explanations on this disease and supports/ways to manage it.
In a nutshell, human body cells need energy in order to function and the main source of energy is through glucose, which is produced from the digestion of foods containing carbohydrates. Glucose gets released in the bloodstream to be used by the cells. Pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin helps the cells to absorb glucose.
If the body does not produce enough insulin or if there is no way for the glucose to enter the cell, glucose stays in the blood, rather than entering the cells. The body will attempt to excrete the excess glucose in the blood, which causes the symptoms of frequent urination and thirst in people with diabetes. High glucose levels in the blood over a long period of time can result in damage to various organs including kidneys, nerves, eyes, heart, and blood vessels and lead to health complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, neuropathy, and amputation.
Thirty per cent of people with diabetes have symptoms of depression which can make it harder to manage diabetes. Loss of energy can make it harder to eat healthy, exercise and test blood glucose. Spotting depression is the first step. Getting help is the second.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have different causes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which affects the pancreas and stops the body from producing insulin. This type occurs mostly in children or adolescents. However, Type 2 diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes and is a metabolic disorder that develops when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or the insulin produced is not working effectively. Type 2 onset that was mostly seen in adulthood is now being seen in children as well.
Type 2 diabetes has been linked to our obesogenic environment that influences our lifestyle and is more closely associated with genetic inheritance than type 1 diabetes.
Improving eating habits and being more physically active can help improve your health, helps your diabetes and prevent problems that diabetes can cause.
Almost everyone, whether or not they have diabetes, benefits from physical activity.
Regular exercise and leading an active lifestyle has special benefits if you have type 2 diabetes such as improvement in your body’s sensitivity to insulin and managing your blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is different from other health condition because individuals who have it manage their own condition most of the time. To increase your success with your goals and action plans, talk to your local diabetes health care team. Here are some local resources:
Outpatient Diabetes Health Centre (at Delta Hospital) - provides education and support to people living with diabetes, their family and the community. Classes and individual counselling sessions address many topics including healthy eating, blood glucose, testing, exercise, weight management and staying healthy while living with diabetes. Call 604-946-1121 ext. 783278
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, call at 1-866-902-3767,
or check their website: http://www.coag.uvic.ca/cdsmp/
Food Skill for Families is a free six-week course on hand-on healthy cooking offered by Canadian Diabetes Association. For more information visit: http://www.foodskillsforfamilies.ca/
For more information on various topics on managing diabetes visit:
http://www.fraserhealth.ca/your_health/health-topics/diabetes/resources_and_teaching_tools
http://health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/diabetes/fs/
