November is Diabetes Awareness Month!
All of us know a few people who have
diabetes. We hear about insulin, Type 1 and Type 2 but do you know the basics?
Facts you should know
Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas which produces insulin, doesn’t work. It produces little or no insulin.
- About 10% of
diabetics have Type 1.
- Type 1 can’t
be prevented.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin
being produced doesn’t work well.
- About 90% of
diabetics have Type 2.
- In some cases, Type 2 is preventable.
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women. This type of diabetes is temporary.
About 3.7% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.
This percentage is higher with aboriginal women. Women who develop gestational are
at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in their lives.
What
exactly, is insulin?
Insulin is a
hormone that helps your body control its glucose or blood sugar level. Your
body gets energy by making glucose from foods like bread, pasta, milk and
fruit. Insulin helps keep the body’s blood glucose at a healthy level.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes.
