Diabetes

Diabetes has become one of the most common diseases in highly developed countries and it raises your risk of getting heart disease by two to four times.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes means your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by a gland near your stomach called the pancreas. Your body uses insulin to carry sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. Sugar is the "fuel" your body needs for all your activities - whether it's breathing, reading, walking or running. Your body changes the food you eat into a sugar called glucose. When you have diabetes, sugar isn't carried properly to your cells, so too much stays in your bloodstream. This is called hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Left untreated, high blood sugar can cause a lot of damage to your body.

Main types of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually occurs in children and young adults. That's why it often is called "Juvenile" diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, your body makes little or no insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. It usually occurs in people over the age of 40. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or your cells resist the insulin.

Although diabetes can increase your risk of heart disease, the risk can be lowered considerably if you follow a healthy lifestyle plan. What is a healthy lifestyle plan? It begins with keeping your diabetes in good control, being aware of your diet and exercising. As well, it means lowering other risk factors. Everyone should have a healthy lifestyle plan, but it is really important for people with diabetes.

Do you have diabetes? Go to www.ascensia.ca for more information.