Thursday, October 30, 2014
Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
HPHA Diabetes Educators Urge You to Check Your Diabetes Risk!
An estimated one million Canadians live with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, underlining the importance of raising awareness of its risk factors.
“The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that anyone over the age of 40 be tested for diabetes every three years,” says Victoria Zimmer, Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Educator. “Anyone who has one or more risk factors listed below should be tested more frequently.”
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors
- Having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes;
- Being a member of a high-risk group (Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian, or African descent);
- Having health complications that are associated with diabetes;
- Having given birth to a baby that weighed more than four kilograms (nine pounds) at birth or having had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy); Having been diagnosed with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose);
- Having high blood pressure;
- Having high cholesterol or other fats in the blood;
- Being overweight, especially if that weight is mostly carried around the tummy;
- Having been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome;
- Having been diagnosed with Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin);
- Having been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder;
- Having been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea;
- Having been prescribed a glucocorticoid medication by a doctor.
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes usually develop in adulthood, although more children and adolescents are being diagnosed. Prediabetes means a person’s blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Nearly half of those with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes. Research shows that some long-term diabetes complications such as heart disease and nerve damage may begin during prediabetes, but the risk of developing diabetes can be reduced by nearly 60 per cent through lifestyle modifications. If left undiagnosed or untreated diabetes is a leading cause of life-threatening complications including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Currently 20 people are diagnosed with diabetes every hour of every day.
“If you have prediabetes or diabetes and are looking for support you can self-refer to the diabetes education centres in Huron and Perth Counties by calling 519-272-8210 ext 2365. You can also visit our website at www.huronperthdiabetes.com to find out where your closest diabetes education centre is, to get reliable information or to e-mail us a question,” says Zimmer. “If you are looking for support from others living with diabetes, join us at the Royal Palisades in Stratford on November 6th at 2:00 pm for a diabetes support group for those living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes or their caregivers. The support group runs the first Thursday of every month and covers a variety of topics with the opportunity to ask questions and seek the support you need!”
To mark Diabetes Awareness Month this November, the Canadian Diabetes Association is unveiling its “Don’t Be Risky” campaign. Canadians are encouraged to visit www.DontBeRisky.ca and fill out a CANRISK test to identify their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. All those who complete the test and entry form by November 30, 2014 are eligible to win a $5,000 or one of two $2,500 Money for Life Experiences: A financial portfolio from Sun Life Financial. As well, Novo Nordisk will donate $1 to diabetes research for every CANRISK test taken.
Statistics provided by the Canadian Diabetes Association
Media Contact:
Victoria Zimmer
Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Educator
519-272-8210 ext 2366
victoria.zimmer@hpha.ca
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