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Family Health Magazine
MODERN LIVING

Diabetes
The exploding epidemic

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly use the sugar (glucose) that is broken down from food. Insulin, made by the pancreas, is required to help the body move the glucose from the blood stream into the cells. With diabetes, either too little insulin is being made or the body is resistant to the insulin. Blood glucose levels become elevated when the glucose stays in the bloodstream. Many health problems can result.

There are three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 accounts for about 10 per cent of all diabetes. This type most often affects children and adolescents. Daily insulin injections are needed to survive, as the beta cells of the pancreas cannot make enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for almost 90 per cent of diabetes. In Type 2, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not effectively use the insulin made (called insulin resistance).

Gestational diabetes affects two to four per cent of all pregnancies. It is a temporary condition brought on by pregnancy, but both mother and child face a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future.

What are the risk factors for developing diabetes?

Risk factors for developing diabetes include:

• Aging - Type 2 diabetes is occurring in younger people, but usually affects those over 45
• Obesity - Eighty per cent of people with diabetes are very overweight
• Inactive lifestyle - Lack of exercise contributes to the development of diabetes
• Family history - having a relative with diabetes
• Race/ethnicity - People of Aboriginal, Hispanic or African descent are more likely to develop diabetes. Aboriginal people, living in aboriginal communities, have a three to five times higher rate of diabetes compared with the general population.
• Giving birth to a large baby (weighing over four kilograms or nine pounds at birth)
• Having gestational diabetes
• High cholesterol
• History of blood glucose levels that are higher than normal (glucose intolerance).
• High blood pressure or heart disease
• Stress, which can make it difficult for the body to use insulin.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

• unusual thirst
• frequent passing of urine
• unusual weight loss
• extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• blurred vision
• frequent or recurring infections
• cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

People with Type 2 diabetes often show no symptoms. Many are diagnosed years after the disease begins to affect them.

How common is diabetes?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 150 million people worldwide have diabetes. By 2025 that figure will double to approximately 300 million.

At least 50 per cent of all people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. About 1.5 million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes, and likely another 750,000 are unaware of their condition.

Why are we experiencing this exploding epidemic?

Currently Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in developed countries. However, the number of people with diabetes is expected to rise in poorer developing countries. This increase is related to lifestyle changes as these countries become more modern, urban, and westernized.

Our population is aging; with age the occurrence of diabetes increases. Ten per cent of Canadians over the age of 65 have diabetes. Just being over age 45 is a risk factor for developing the disease.

Heredity plays a role, but in many people diabetes is fueled by lifestyle and surroundings. Many people are inactive and highly stressed. There is easy access to food. Not all of this food is healthy, especially fast foods high in fat, carbohydrates and sugars. More people are overweight. All of these factors contribute to the increased occurrence of diabetes.

Lifestyle habits are formed at an early age. Many parents work and have less time to prepare healthy foods. People rush home from work and use drive-through fast food restaurants with super-size portions to feed themselves and their children, before heading out to evening activities. Need we discuss those frequent hot dog lunches and vending machines?

Kids are less physically active now. Parents are reluctant to allow their children to run and play outside of the backyard. Over the past 20 years cuts have been made to school physical education programs. Some families cannot afford the costs associated with school sports teams or organized sports.

The lives of adults have also changed from previous generations. We are less active, thanks in part to modern conveniences.

• Snowblowers are almost as common as snow shovels.
• Lawn mowers are often self-propelled or even ridable tractor-mowers.
• Remote controls are used for channel surfing.
• Portable telephones and paging systems mean less need to move around.
• Gas burning fireplaces eliminate the need to chop wood.
• Computers and Internet access allow us to spend more time sitting.
• Drive-through restaurants and banking translate to less walking, more driving.
• Most of our food is purchased at the local grocery store. Fewer people grow gardens or hunt for food.

So now we know why diabetes is on the rise. Let’s look at what we can do to prevent it.

• Choose a healthy lifestyle.
• Participate in regular physical activity.
• Make healthy food choices.
• Manage stress.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Don’t smoke.
• Set good examples for children — they are following your lead!
• See your family doctor.

Research has proven over and over again that changes to lifestyle can prevent or delay the development of Type 2 diabetes. Act now to reduce your chances of developing this disease.