Diabetes: An Introduction

"Diabetes in Canada is reaching epidemic proportions."

Those were the words my biology professor opened with during a lecture on Tuesday evening.

Karen Ross is part of the faculty of science at Thompson Rivers University and her research interests lie in the field of diabetes. Her topic could hardly be more timely.

According to the Canadian Diabetic Association more than 3 million Canadians have diabetes. If the population of Canada is just over 30 million, than that means according to this statistic, 10 per cent of the population is diabetic.

While that number may be a little inflated, if even six to eight per cent of Canadians have diabetes then it is far too prevalent. Especially considering that one can make certain life choices that decrease the risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

While this post will not go into the pathophysiology of diabetes there are several articles that have brought the topic back to the centre of public interest.

The main risk behaviours for acquiring Type 2 diabetes include sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a high-glucose (sugar) diet. According to a recent article in the Vancouver Sun drinking coffee or tea regularily may reduce the risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

However, think about how much sugar one pours into the average double-double or triple-triple (and, yes, I've heard of people ordering quadruple-quadruples).

So for those readers who are wondering, "why should I care when I take care of myself?" consider the following article from the Vancouver Sun.

"The rising rates of diabetes in Canada could cost the economy as much as $17 billion by the year 2020, according to a new report that calls on the federal government to do more to ease the economic burden," the article reports.

That money has to come form somewhere. If more Canadians are educated about this disease and how best to avoid it then that number can be reduced. Either way, it's going to be our tax dollars that fund the treatment.