All about diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin, or their cells don't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is an important hormone produced by the pancreas that moves glucose, a type of sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. Once inside the body's cells, glucose is used as a source of energy. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay in the blood. Blood sugar levels will then increase.

In Canada, almost 3.4 million people have diabetes, and about 20% to 40% of those with the condition are unaware that they have it. According to Diabetes Canada, 5 million people in Canada will have diabetes by the year 2025.

There are 3 main kinds of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and adolescents, and occurs when the pancreas cannot make insulin. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin on a daily basis. It’s estimated that around 10% of all people with diabetes have type 1.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not use insulin properly. It usually occurs in adults, although in some cases, children may be affected. People with type 2 diabetes are treated with lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) and may require diabetes medications or insulin. Approximately 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2. Type 2 diabetes is very closely linked to body weight and obesity, which can increase the risk of complications from diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is a temporary type of diabetes that is first diagnosed during pregnancy. About 2% to 4% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes. If a woman has gestational diabetes, both she and her baby have a higher risk of developing diabetes later on.

Diabetes Canada estimates that at least 5.7 million Canadians (22%) are living with prediabetes. A person with prediabetes has blood sugar (glucose) levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. As in type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but there may be less of it, or the body does not use insulin properly. Not everyone with prediabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes, however many people will.

Studies have shown that keeping blood sugar levels as close to the normal range as possible can help prevent the long-term health problems associated with diabetes, such as nerve damage, kidney disease, and blindness. Whichever type of diabetes you have, you'll need to measure your blood sugar regularly and follow a treatment plan to keep your blood sugar under control. Your doctor and pharmacist can show you how to monitor blood sugar levels. See our disease database articles on diabetes for more information.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2023. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Diabetes-Managing-Your-Condition