The negative statistics associated with diabetes are staggering. At present, diagnosed diabetes afficts more than 2.2 million people in Canada alone. Researchers suspect that an equal number of Canadians have yet to have the disease diagnosed. WHO estimates that approximately 300 million people will suffer from diabetes within the next 25 years. There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 requiring Insulin injections, usually from an early age, and Type 2, more common in later life requiring oral medication but sometimes insulin too.

Diabetes costs Canada an estimated $15 billion per year from the disease itself and its medical complications. It is the leading cause of blindness in the agegroup 21 to 74. It is the leading cause of kidney failure accounting for about 40% of all new cases. Nerve damage, circulatory disorders resulting in the loss of a lower limb, heart problems with heart attacks and strokes are all more prevalent. High blood pressure or hyertension is extremely common and this only serves to accentuate and increase the effects of diabetes.

Risk factors for diabetes

• Hypertension
• Family history of confirmed diabetes
• Obesity (usually abdominal)
• High cholesterol or other lipids
• Pre-existing heart disease
• High blood glucose levels
• Mothers with diabetes during pregnancy (gestational)
• Age over 45
• Ethnic origin - Aboriginal, Asian, African, or Hispanic descent

Recommended blood pressure by WHO

• Patients with diabetes - 130/85 or less
• Patients with kidney disease - 125/75 or less
• People over 60 - 140/90 or less

Medications often used specifically for diabetes

• Metformin
• Glyburide
• Glicazide
• Glitazones
• Repaglinide
• ACE inhibitors
• ARBs
• Age over 45
• Insulin - usually Humulin

Monitoring glucose will be discussed at a later update.