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Diabetes is a growing epidemic in Nunavut. A disease of the body's metabolism, diabetes is a life long condition that affects the way the body burns sugar as fuel.
There are two primary types of diabetes -- Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes was formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes and more commonly affects children. It is not preventable.
People with Type 1 diabetes do not make enough of the hormone insulin.
Insulin helps the body convert food sugars into energy by moving sugar from the bloodstream into the cells.
Without insulin, you could eat all the food you want and still starve because the body can't use the food as fuel.
People with Type 1 diabetes need to take needles to get the amount of insulin they need.
Type 2 diabetes is different. It accounts for more than 90 per cent of all diabetes cases.
It used to be known as adult onset diabetes, however, this is a misnomer.
During the past 10 years, the number of children and teenagers diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is growing exponentially.
People with Type 2 diabetes usually have enough insulin, but their body's cells are not able to use it properly. For them, the cells react slowly or sluggishly to the insulin.
The body's cells have become resistant to the effects of the insulin.
Instead of the sugar being moved into the cells for use, it remains circulating in the blood where it is not able to be burned as fuel.
Damaging effects
This extra sugar in the blood has a number of long-term damaging effects.
After many years, extra sugar in the blood can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.
Diabetics are twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-diabetics.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease, blindness and amputation. It can be a terribly frightening disease.
The symptoms
There are a number of symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
If you're experiencing any number of the following symptoms, you should visit your local health centre.
Cases on the rise
In Nunavut, there has been a significant increase in the number of diabetes cases.
As Nunavummiut move further away from their traditional lifestyle and diet towards a southern lifestyle, their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes significantly increases.
Type 2 diabetes could be the greatest health risk affecting Nunavummiut in the next 20 years.
Most Type 2 diabetics tend to be overweight and inactive.
By maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a well-balanced diet and living an active life, you can significantly diminish your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
