Chronic Diseases & Nutrition: Diabetes

Chronic Diseases & Nutrition: Diabetes

• Diabetes is one of the top 10 killers of adults.
• In Canada, an estimated 2.4 million people had diabetes by 2016.
• Common forms of diabetes include Type 1 and Type 2.

Warning Signs of Diabetes

• Excessive urination and thirst
• Glucose in the urine
• Weight loss with nausea, easy tiring, weakness, or irritability
• Cravings for food, especially sweets
• Frequent infections of the skin, gums, vagina, or urinary tract
• Vision disturbances, blurred vision
• Pain in the legs, feet, or fingers
• Slow healing of cuts and bruises
• Itching
• Drowsiness
• Abnormally high glucose in the blood

Diabetes Types 1 and 2 Compared

Type 1 Diabetes

• 5 to 10 percent of cases.
• Common age of occurrence
• Autoimmune disorder: Own immune system attacks pancreas
• Lose ability to produce insulin
• External sources of insulin: Fast-acting and long-acting forms

Type 2 Diabetes

• Predominant type of diabetes
• Lose sensitivity to insulin
• Obesity underlies many cases
• Other factors foreshadowing development: Middle age and physical inactivity, body fat accumulation, genetic inheritance

Prediabetes

• A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.
• Considered a major risk factor for future diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
• Formerly called impaired glucose tolerance.

Canada-Specific Diabetes Statistics

• In Canada, 34% of the population lives with diabetes or prediabetes.
• 13% live with diagnosed diabetes.
• Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diagnosed, type 2 undiagnosed, and prediabetes combined in 2020 - 11,232,000 people (or 29% of the population).
• 2030 estimates are 13,559,000 people (32% of the population).
• $3.8B annually in direct health care costs for provinces.

Newfoundland and Labrador-Specific Diabetes Statistics

• 34% live with diabetes or prediabetes in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• 13% live with diagnosed diabetes.
• Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diagnosed, type 2 undiagnosed, and prediabetes combined in 2020 – 185,000 people (or 34% of the population).
• 2030 estimates are 211,000 people (38% of the population)
• $67M annually in direct health care costs for the province.

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Choose a diet high in vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry, and whole grains.
• Exercise regularly.
• Restrict alcohol.
• Abstain from smoking.

Risk Factors – Newfoundland

• 53.2% of adults and 52.1% of youth physically inactive.
• 36% of adults are overweight.
• 40.2% of adults are obese.
• 81.7% of adults not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
• 25% males and 15% females considered heavy drinkers.
• 18.2% of adults are current smokers.

Management of Diabetes

• Weight management (type 2 diabetes)
• Dietary management: Adequate nutrient intake, adequate fibre intake, moderate intake of added sugars, controlled intake of total carbohydrate, low in saturated fat, adequate protein intake.
• Physical activity (improves tissue sensitivity to insulin)

Resources

• Most provinces have active Diabetes Canada regional offices and provincial programs for diabetes management.
• Dietitians are excellent first-stop health professionals.

This quiz explores the critical aspects of diabetes, including its prevalence, warning signs, and comparisons between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Understand the impact of nutrition on managing this chronic condition and the vital statistics around its occurrence in Canada.