Diabetes

Date: Friday, May 20, 2010

To: Prof. Vail
From: Rosalind Jack
Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to produce, or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that
helps cells absorb glucose(sugar) for energy. Over two million Canadians have diabetes and one third of
them are unaware of it. Diabetes can develop in children and adults. Some risk factors include obesity,
and family history of diabetes. In Canada people of Aboriginal descent are the most likely to have
diabetes.

There are three types of diabetes:

Type One Diabetes - occurs most often in children and young adults when the pancreas doesn’t produce
insulin. These people with type one diabetes need treatment with daily insulin injections.

Type Two Diabetes - is usually developed in adulthood and this is the most common type of diabetes.
This form of diabetes occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not
use the insulin effectively.

Gestational Diabetes - develops during pregnancy, and it usually disappears after childbirth. However
the woman is still at risk of developing diabetes later in life.

A person with diabetes may experience symptoms such as:

 Increased thirst
 Frequent urinating
 Constant hunger
 Unusual weight loss
 Extreme fatigue
 Dry, itchy skin
 Blurred eyesight

Diabetes must be controlled. If diabetes is left untreated it can lead to health problems such as kidney
disease, nerve damage, sexual dysfunction, blindness etc. So if you think or know that you have some of
these symptoms, or that diabetes runs in your family please check with your doctor, or if you already
have diabetes call you can call the diabetes clinic at 416-747-3896.
References

1. Sheila A. Sorrentino, Mosby’s Canadian Textbook for the Support worker, First Canadian Edition

2. Canadian Diabetes Association, www.Diabetes.ca