Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition where your body does not produce
enough insulin, or your body cannot use the insulin it produces. Your body needs insulin to change the sugar from
food into energy. When you don’t have
enough insulin, the sugar stays in your blood so that your “blood sugar level”
gets too high. High blood sugar levels over
long periods of time can cause complications such as: damage to blood vessels, kidneys,
and difficulties with circulation.
Is there only one kind of
Diabetes?
There are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 is where
the body makes little or no insulin.
- Type 2 where the
body makes insulin but cannot use it properly.
- Gestational
diabetes where the body is not able to properly use insulin during pregnancy, this type of
diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born.
v Nine
out of ten people with diabetes have Type 2.
Why are aboriginal people
at greater risk for diabetes?
Many years ago, diabetes was not a concern for aboriginal people. In earlier times, aboriginal people needed to be
very active in order to survive, and they also ate traditional foods. Some people think that the change in lifestyle for
aboriginal people has caused people to be less active and eat different foods. The sudden change of lifestyle puts aboriginal
people at a greater risk for developing diabetes than other Canadians.
Aboriginal people in Canada are at greater risk for developing Type 2
Diabetes than other Canadians. Aboriginal
children are also now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition that in the past
occurred mainly in older persons. Inuit rates
of diabetes are not as high as other aboriginal populations, however there is fear that
the rates of type 2 are increasing among Inuit as well.
Is diabetes serious?
Yes. Poor blood glucose management can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, impotence,
blindness, and amputation.
The good news is that by keeping your blood glucose levels in a target range determined by
your doctor, you can live a long and healthy life.
How do I know if I have
Diabetes?
You might have type 2 diabetes if:
v
You are often thirsty
v
You go to the bathroom a lot (urinate)
v
You lose weight without knowing why
v
You do not have much energy
v
You can’t see well (blurred vision)
v
You get more infections than usual
v
You have cuts and bruises that heal slowly
v
You feel tingling or numbness in your hands or
feet.
On the other hand, many people who have type 2 diabetes may not have
any of these signs. This is why it is
important to be tested regularly for diabetes if you are an aboriginal adult, or if you
have any of the signs listed above.
It is important to know if you have diabetes. The sooner you know, the sooner you can take steps
to help you live well with diabetes. People
with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.
Diabetes: What are the
risks?
Aboriginal people in Canada are at greater risk for developing type 2
diabetes than other Canadians. Generally,
the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you age, but if you are an aboriginal
person, you are at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes earlier in life. Aboriginal children are also now being diagnosed
with type 2 diabetes- a condition that in the past occurred mainly in older persons. Inuit rates of diabetes are not as high as other
aboriginal populations, however there is fear that the rates of type 2 diabetes are
increasing among Inuit as well.
You are more likely to develop diabetes if:
v
You are overweight (especially if most of your
weight is around your middle)
v
You have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
v
You have trouble dealing with stress
v
You had a baby that weighed over 4kg (9lbs) at
birth
v
You had diabetes during your pregnancy
v
You are not active.
Can smoking affect
diabetes?
Cigarette smoking causes many health problems. These problems can be even more serious for people
with diabetes. Most people know that smoking
causes cancer and breathing problems, but it can also cause other problems, especially if
you have diabetes. Because smoking decreases
the way blood flows through your body, it increases the chance of long term complications
of diabetes including heart disease and amputation.
Here are some facts about smoking:
Ø
When you smoke, less oxygen flows inside your
body. This can cause a heart attack or
stroke.
Ø
Smoking damages your blood vessels, which
makes it harder for your body to heal. This
can lead to infections in your legs and feet.
Ø
If you smoke and you have diabetes, you are
more likely to get nerve damage and kidney disease.
Ø
Smokers are more likely to get colds and
respiratory infections.
Ø
Smoking can lead to impotence.
Ø
Children are more likely to start smoking if
their parents smoke.
The good news is that no matter how long you’ve smoked, your
health will start to improve right after you quit or cut down a lot on the amount that you
smoke. Kicking the habit is hard to
do—but worth it.
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