November is National Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada. Take the Risk Assessment – It’s Worth it!
Did you know that more than two million Canadians have diabetes and about a third don’t even know it? 90% of those with Diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes.
What is diabetes and what are the risks?
- Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body does not make enough of the hormone insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes- insulin moves glucose from the blood into the cells
- We get glucose from the food we eat which acts as our main source of energy
- Untreated diabetes can lead to health problems such as heart disease, eye disease, and kidney disease.
The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed!
Are your members at risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
- Encourage them to find out more about their risk by taking The Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment – CANRISK. Knowing your risk and making healthy changes can prevent diabetes or reduce complications from diabetes. Even small lifestyle changes can help.
Prevent Type 2 diabetes in your workplace by encouraging members to:
- Be active – Support employees to incorporate physical activity into their day and decrease their sedentary time. Adults need 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity per week, but this can be done in 10 minute bouts.
- Eat well – Healthy eating helps to optimize productivity and concentration and maintain a healthy blood sugar level. This means eating more high-fibre foods such as lentils, brown rice, vegetables and fruit; choosing lean meats and lower fat dairy products and limiting salt, and caffeine intake. Choose foods from Canada’s Food Guide.
- Live tobacco free – Did you know that people who smoke or use tobacco are at a greater risk than non-smokers to get Type 2 diabetes? The nicotine in cigarettes can make the body more resistant to insulin and can damage the cells lining the blood vessels.
Create an environment free of second-hand smoke and support members to quit smoking.
For more information visit, Diabetes Prevention, Toronto Public Health
Reprinted from Toronto Public Health – Healthy Workplaces – November 2015 E-News