Almost everyone knows someone with diabetes, and most families have a family member with diabetes. Diabetes is a very common health condition affecting over three million Canadians. People with diabetes generally look very normal and there are no visible attributes to identify this condition. So, is it serious?
Yes, diabetes is very serious. If diabetes was not serious and high blood sugars did not cause harm, there wouldn’t be a need for diabetes educators or diabetes education centers. Diabetes is a disease of blood vessels. Left untreated, high blood sugars do significant damage to blood vessels. The complications of diabetes are a result of high blood sugars, which damage arteries, veins and tiny capillaries.
Large blood vessel disease leads to heart disease, stroke and decreased blood supply to the lower extremities sometimes resulting in amputations.
Tiny blood vessel disease causes eye problems, even blindness, kidney issues and nerve damage to any body part.
Is diabetes preventable? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which, at this time, is not preventable. Type 2 diabetes, in some cases, can be prevented. Extra weight is one of the greatest risk factors.
Keeping your body at a healthy weight, along with regular exercise and healthy eating, will go a long way in reducing your risk for diabetes. If you have diabetes, this advice will go a long way in helping you manage your Type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, you cannot change your genetics, so if there is Type 2 diabetes in your family, your risk will be higher.
Type 1 diabetes can only be managed with insulin injections or an insulin pump. In Type 1 diabetes the pancreas makes no insulin or very, very little. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still makes insulin, though either not enough, or it makes lots but insulin resistance does not let the body use the insulin effectively.
Some Type 2 diabetes can be managed with a healthy lifestyle only, some with medication in tablet form, and sometimes some insulin may need to be added.
A human body cannot survive long without insulin. A person with Type 1 diabetes can survive at best just a few days without insulin.
The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are generally quite noticeable.
Often the early symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. As the pancreas makes less insulin, often flu-like symptoms, a fruity odour to the breath, abdominal pain, along with an increase in the above mentioned symptoms, appear. At this time Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a very serious condition, which could be fatal, is probably occurring. If this should happen, seek medical advice immediately.
The symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are more subtle. It is often diagnosed with routine bloodwork or the presence of any of the above symptoms. Do ask your doctor to check your blood sugar regularly, especially if you are at risk.
Diabetes is a condition that can be managed. There are so many options today to manage Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In Canada, diabetes education is available to everyone. The Canadian Diabetes Association is a great resource and can be found at www.diabetes.ca or reached by phone 1-800-226-8464.
For more information about any of the free services offered by your local family health team ask your doctor or nurse practitioner during your next visit, visit the website www.afhto.ca or google “family health team locations.”
