HOME | ACT | LEARN | GIVE

Corporate Sponsors of
Stop Diabetes Canada

Blood
Did you know?

• Type 2 diabetes increases your risk for heart disease. All it takes is permanent weight loss of 5 to 10 percent to decrease your risk of heart attack and strokes.

• Doctors are starting to view weight loss surgery as a form of early intervention that can help prevent diabetes and other diseases associated with excess body weight.

• Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Many serious complications - such as heart disease and nerve damage - begin during pre-diabetes.

• Diabetes is more lethal than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.

ACT

An ounce of prevention...

1 in every 5 people are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The best way to stop diabetes is to prevent it from starting in the first place. Here are some winning tips for making small changes to your everyday life to stop diabetes:

  • Eat slowly - it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it's full
  • Start walking 5 minutes more each day until you reach 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity
  • Watch half an hour less TV
  • Eat one more piece of fruit or serving of vegetables each day
  • Set a weight loss goal that will have you losing 5 to 10 percent of your current body weight over several months
  • Consider seeking medical assistance with weight loss via proven effective minimally-invasive techniques such as laparoscopic gastric banding

Your risk assessment

The earlier you are diagnosed, the sooner you can take action to stay well - now and in the future! If you already have type 2 diabetes, your children, brothers and sisters are at risk. Urge them to be tested for diabetes. Don't ignore these risk factors:

  • I have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.
  • I am a member of a high-risk group (Aboriginal, Hispanic, South Asian, Asian or African descent).
  • I have health complications that are associated with diabetes.
  • I gave birth to a baby that weighed over 4 kg (9 lb) at birth.
  • I had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
  • I have been told I have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose.
  • I have high blood pressure.
  • I have high cholesterol or other fats in my blood.
  • I am overweight (especially around my middle).
  • I have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin)
  • Schizophrenia

Recognize the signs, get tested

1 out of every 4 people with diabetes don't know that they have it

The symptoms of diabetes include the following:

  • Impaired Vision
  • Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
  • Frequent urination
  • Frequent or recurring infections
  • Unusual thirst
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal
  • Rapid Weight Gain or Weight Loss
  • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Many people who have type 2 diabetes show no symptoms. It's important to recognize all the signs and speak with a Doctor if you have any concerns... etc

Click here to learn more about the early signs of this disease.