Types of Diabetes Type 1: the body makes little or no insulin Type 2: the body makes insulin, but cannot use it Gestational: glucose intolerance that arises during pregnancy There are other forms of diabetes but these are relatively rare. The Canadian Medical Association's website has a list of these diseases.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes interferes with the body's ability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is essential for the proper use of the energy contained in the food we eat. This results in a series of malfunctions, which include an excess of a type of sugar called glucose in tests on the blood and urine. Over time, diabetes can lead to life-threatening and debilitating complications.

Currently, the growth of diabetes in Canada is at epidemic levels. Over 2 million Canadians have diabetes and one-third of them are undiagnosed. Among First Nations people, the prevalence of diabetes is three to five times the national average.

Controlling diabetes

There is, as yet, no cure for diabetes but the good news is the disease can be managed and, in the case of type 2 diabetes, preventable. About 90% of all diabetes cases are adult-onset type 2 diabetes, typically diagnosed about the age of 45 but early cases have also been reported.

People of an advanced age or with a family history of diabetes have a higher risk of being diagnosed with type 2. But there are other risk factors - such as being excessively overweight, poor eating habits, and physical inactivity - that are preventable. Scientific studies have also shown that the adverse effects of diabetes can be prevented through good management of blood sugar levels.