DIABETES AWARENESS

On April 30, 1999, Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine proclaimed the first Friday in May as “National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day”.

The Akwesasne Diabetes Education Center would like to take this opportunity to increase awareness on this disease which can lead to many debilitating complications if not well controlled. However, with good control and actively managing diabetes, you can live a healthier life.

Listed below is some helpful information on diabetes, if you are at risk, the signs and being active.

Information on: what is diabetes

Diabetes happens when your body does not make or use insulin the right way. Insulin is important for your body to turn sugar from food into energy. There are three types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes happens when the body doesn’t make insulin;

• Type 2 diabetes happens when the body has trouble using the insulin it makes; and

• Gestational diabetes where the body can’t use insulin during pregnancy

Who gets diabetes?

Aboriginal people are more likely to get type 2 diabetes - the most common kind -than other Canadians. Younger Aboriginal people are developing type 2 diabetes more than before.

If I have type 2 diabetes, how can I manage it?

Managing diabetes -through lifestyle and possibly medication - is a helpful way to slow or stop damage to your kidneys, poor circulation, heart disease or eye diseases.

How can a traditional lifestyle help prevent diabetes?

Diabetes was not always a health issue for Aboriginal people. When Aboriginal people had a traditional lifestyle with lots of physical activity and traditional foods, fewer people had diabetes.

Living a more traditional lifestyle can give Aboriginal people a way to prevent diabetes, and can help those who have diabetes live healthier lives.

Information on: you are at risk

Aboriginal people have a higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

Before, older people used to get diabetes, but now, Aboriginal people are getting it a lot younger because their traditional lifestyle has changed so fast.

The risk factors-do these apply to you?

Getting older

Overweight (especially in the stomach)

Blood relative with diabetes - or your mother had gestational diabetes

Have had a baby over 4 kg (9 lbs.)

Had gestational diabetes

High cholesterol and/or high blood pressure

Higher blood sugar than normal

Darker patches of skin around your neck

If you answered yes to any of those risk factors, it does not mean you have diabetes. Talk to your local health care provider and get tested. Finding out early gives you a head start in living a healthy lifestyle.

What can I do to lower my risk?

Eat healthy foods

Be active

Manage your stress

Information on: the signs

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes among Aboriginal people. You can have diabetes without knowing it.

What should I look for?

Being thirsty often

Having to pee often

Unusual weight gain or loss

Getting tired often

Blurry vision

Getting infections often

Cuts and bruises that won’t heal

• Tingly or numb hands and feet

• Problems with erections

If you have any of these signs, see your local health care provider and get tested. Finding out early gives you a head start in living a healthy lifestyle.

Information on: being active

Physical activity helps prevent and manage the effects of type 2 diabetes.

If you have diabetes, being active helps:

• Manage blood sugar levels

• Reduce risk of complications like blindness and amputation

• Better circulation and less numbness in hands, feet, legs and arms

• Healing faster

• Lower blood pressure and cholesterol

• Lower the risk of heart attack and stroke

• Achieve a healthy weight

• Improve the quality of life and feeling better

Being active every day is a step towards better health and a healthy body weight.

Canada’s Physical Activity Guide recommends 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity daily for adults and 90 minutes a day for children and youth. You don’t have to do it all at once; 10 minutes for adults and 5 minutes for children and youth adds up fast!

Some ideas to add mere activity are to: go for walks with the neighbor, canoe with your friends, play street hockey with your kids. As long as you’re up and moving, you’re being active and getting healthier.

Build up your activity slowly.

Don’t start too fast or too hard. Build your exercise up to about an hour a day. If you haven’t been active lately, or if you have health conditions, talk to your health care provider before starting to exercise.

Staying active can lower your risk of developing diabetes. If you already have diabetes, being active can help you to lead a long and healthier life.

To learn more about diabetes, visit Akwesasne Diabetes Center at Kanonkwat’sheri:io or call 613-575-2341 ext. 3247

Information provided by: Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Health Canada