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Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on November 16, 2022
Diabetes likely affects you or someone you know. Over 11 million Canadians today are living with diabetes or prediabetes, but less than 50% of Canadians can identify the early warning signs of the disease.
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on November 16, 2022
Diabetes likely affects you or someone you know. Over 11 million Canadians today are living with diabetes or prediabetes, but less than 50% of Canadians can identify the early warning signs of the disease.
If left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease and kidney disease and is one of the main causes of vision loss and limb amputation. Discovered early, diabetes can be treated effectively.
To understand diabetes, you first need to know that insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps your body regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood by moving it into your cells. Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas either doesn’t produce enough insulin (Type 1) or can’t use the insulin it does produce (Type 2). When this happens, glucose levels in your blood rise and cause symptoms.
Diabetes is caused by various factors such as your genes, ethnic background, your health, lifestyle and environmental factors. Regardless of the cause, there are different types of diabetes.
Prediabetes affects 6 million Canadians and occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2. Most people with prediabetes are not aware they have it. Left untreated, it will develop into Type 2.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 90% of all cases of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and accounts for roughly 10% of all cases of diabetes in Canada. It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, as people with this type must use insulin daily to keep their blood sugar at a healthy level.
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form occurring during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Affecting 3-to-20% of pregnant women, it usually goes away shortly after delivery.
No matter what type you have, living with diabetes isn’t easy. People with diabetes will need to test and manage their blood glucose levels for the rest of their lives. How often they test and how they manage their levels depends on the type of diabetes and the treatments being used.
The most common symptoms associated with diabetes are:
However, people with prediabetes or early Type 2 may not notice any symptoms. People with a family history of diabetes or anyone over age 40 should periodically be screened for high glucose levels.
No matter what type you have, living with diabetes isn’t easy. People with diabetes will need to test and manage their blood glucose levels for the rest of their lives. How often they test and how they manage their levels depends on the type of diabetes and the treatments being used.
The most common symptoms associated with diabetes are:
However, people with prediabetes or early Type 2 may not notice any symptoms. People with a family history of diabetes or anyone over age 40 should periodically be screened for high glucose levels.
Both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can often be prevented. By taking steps to improve one’s lifestyle you can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Prevention is critical if you are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes due to excess weight, high cholesterol, or a family history of diabetes.
Not sure of your risk level? A good place to start is by assessing your risk by taking the Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire CanRisk. Depending on the results, your risk factors and conversations with your doctor, you may also need to get tested for diabetes. If it turns out you do have diabetes, your health benefit plan will help support you.
You can also take charge of your health and take control of diabetes by choosing a balanced, sustainable diet, becoming more physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, taking medication as prescribed and managing your stress and sleep.
Both prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can often be prevented. By taking steps to improve one’s lifestyle you can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Prevention is critical if you are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes due to excess weight, high cholesterol, or a family history of diabetes.
Not sure of your risk level? A good place to start is by assessing your risk by taking the Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire CanRisk. Depending on the results, your risk factors and conversations with your doctor, you may also need to get tested for diabetes. If it turns out you do have diabetes, your health benefit plan will help support you.
You can also take charge of your health and take control of diabetes by choosing a balanced, sustainable diet, becoming more physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, taking medication as prescribed and managing your stress and sleep.
At Medavie Blue Cross, we help members living with diabetes manage their condition by making information, tools and resources readily available and accessible.
Our Diabetes Care program empowers plan members to take charge of their condition by providing convenient, all-in-one access to a glucose monitoring tool, home-delivered test strips, and the one-on-one counselling and education services of a health coach team. The program is just one of the innovative health services offered through our Connected Care digital health platform and is accessible through our website or mobile app. Here’s a quote from one of our Diabetes Care program participants:
“For the last six months, I had the pleasure of working with Brittany Brown, a wonderful nutritionist from the 360Care diabetes coaching program offered by Medavie Blue Cross. Brittany provided warm and encouraging support to me as I adjusted to my recent type 2 diabetes diagnosis. I lost 27 pounds and gained a ton of confidence with her skillful coaching. Her approach was very focused on balance and sustainability - avoiding labelling food as good or bad. In truth, I felt more like I was going to a really good therapist than to a dietician. I wasn’t sure what to expect from diabetes coaching, but I am very glad I signed up. Brittany is a gem. “ - R.S.
Your benefit plan may include reimbursement for the services of a health coach, such as those found in the Diabetes Care program.
This is called our Managing Chronic Disease benefit, and it can help members better understand their condition, develop a personalized treatment plan, learn how to manage symptoms, and receive training and support in using necessary medical equipment.
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...