The Road to End Diabetes
On July 27th,1921 two Canadians, Dr Frederick Banting and a medical student, Charles Best,both working at the University of Toronto, isolated the hormone insulin for the first time. Despite all other advances in diabetes management, this remains the most important mark in the history of diabetes treatment.
Diabetes Awareness Month’s goal is to bring awareness to diabetes in all communities and to all people across Canada, United States and the World. With awareness comes the hope of increasing the support from governments and affiliated organizations in realizing the seriousness of the disease and the costs of maintaining an acceptable quality of life for those with the disease. Awareness will help people to be diagnosed earlier or even delay the onset of the disease.
Diabetes is powerful. It can steal us of our kidneys, eyes, legs, heart, a career, employment, being able to drive and to act with spontaneity. It affects us emotionally and mentally. In other words, our quality of life can be seriously affected.
World Diabetes Day was originally established by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 1991 to call attention to the worldwide epidemic. It wasn’t really on the radar until around 2006, when the IDF advocated successfully to the United Nations to issue a resolution on it and the following year it was officially recognized.
The good news is many of the above complications can be prevented. But to do this, we need to have the knowledge, the support of our health-care team, money/insurance to be able to buy the proper devices used to help us know what our blood glucose is and to make decisions on what to do. On the other hand, with good management, good health-care providers, and new devices we can help to offset these complications.
According to the Diabetes Canada website ,one in three Canadians has diabetes* or prediabetes, and those at age 20 now face a 50 per cent chance of developing the disease. That staggering number speaks to the epidemic diabetes has become across Canada. (across the world). For more Canadian statistics see this visual website.
Awareness is also about you, your family and friends knowing the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Is there a history of diabetes in the family? Have you ever had bloodwork done and the health provider says you have a touch of diabetes but it is ok, just stay away from sweets (this is what happened to me at the age of 17)? If you ever hear this type of comment, please be your own advocate and insist on more testing and/or return to your doctor in a few months to see if there has been any change, either good or bad. Take a minute and assess your risk here at this site.
Despite the research that has gone into trying to find ways to prevent Type 1 diabetes nothing has been identified. However, Type 2 Diabetes can be delayed or even prevented. Simple measures like eating healthy, engaging in physical activity and losing some weight can all reduce your risk. If you have been inactive for any period of time, it is wise to always check with your health-care provider(s) before you start any new activity.
Many different organizations have planned events for November to raise diabetes awareness and to seek support and financial donations to help in research and the development of new treatments to manage the disease.
If you wonder how you can help I have a few suggestions:
1. Talk to people at your workplace, your school, your friends and neighbors and spread the word. In my field of work, everyday I meet a person with diabetes or a person with a history of diabetes in their family.
2. Get involved and help support your local branch of Diabetes Canada. November is normally canvassing month, but of course not this year. However, you could donate clothing, volunteer to speak at a small group of interested individuals (as per COVID rules), donate money or offer to canvass by phone if this is being done in your area.
3. Join Diabetes Canada. This is an excellent resource for patients and families. I have been a member for all 47 years of my diabetes and I appreciate the information they provide which is always as up-to -date as possible. Diabetes Canada advocates for all Canadians living with and affected by diabetes. If you recall, a few years back the Canadian government was going to stop the Disability Tax Credit for diabetes patients. With the help of Diabetes Canada and letters by patients to their local MLA (myself included), this decision was reversed.
Please take a moment this month to thank your care providers and yourself for doing the best in managing the disease. Share you successes and failures with others and get inspired by the new research and products that are flooding the market more than ever before.
It is a long road ahead and with everyone’s involvement we can “End Diabetes”.
#DIABETES&INSULIN
Thank you for your time today and I hope you find this information useful. It it not intended to replace any medical advice from your health-care team. Stay safe.
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