Diabetes is a disease in which your body either can’t produce insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas. Insulin’s role is to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Blood sugar must be carefully regulated to ensure that the body functions properly. Too much blood sugar can cause damage to organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Your body also needs insulin in order to use sugar for energy.
Eleven million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Chances are, diabetes affects you or someone you know.
Types of Diabetes
There are three major types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common diagnosis, followed by type 1 diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, and is usually temporary. In addition, prediabetes is another important diagnosis that indicates an elevated risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes Canada has compiled information to help you understand the disease and learn how to manage it.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce any insulin. Insulin is an important hormone that helps your body to control the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Roughly 10 per cent of people living with diabetes have type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 diabetes generally develops in childhood or adolescence, but can also develop in adulthood. People with type 1 need to inject insulin or use an insulin pump to ensure their bodies have the right amount of insulin. Find out more.
Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes can’t properly use the insulin made by their bodies, or their bodies aren’t able to produce enough insulin. Roughly 90 per cent of people living with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most commonly developed in adulthood, although it can also occur in childhood. Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed with healthy eating and regular exercise alone, but may also require medications or insulin therapy. Find out more.
If you think you or someone you know may have type 2 diabetes, please speak to a doctor or health-care provider.
Diabetes Resources
Diabetes Canada is your place to find everything you need to gain a deeper understanding of how to live a healthier life while managing your diabetes. Below are links to some great resources on their website, as well as links to a few other helpful resources:
- Preventing diabetes
- Assess your risk
- Newly diagnosed
- Getting started with insulin
- Nutrition and fitness
- Healthy living tools and resources to help you live well with diabetes
- Diabetes Canada Podcast
- PC Health App
- Tasty Recipes For People with Diabetes and Their Families
- Recording: Diabetes and Wellbeing with Carleton Professor Rachel Burns
- Canada Life “Health Connected” site for plan members