Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. There are three types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes - Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, allowing glucose to enter cells and fuel them.
Type 2 diabetes - Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to make enough or properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency.
Gestational diabetes - A result of the body not being able to properly use insulin during pregnancy. This type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born.

Diabetes has been a hot topic in Canadian news and studies recently. More specifically, type 2 diabetes has been getting a lot of attention. This is in part because it is preventable yet many more cases are cropping up. A balanced diet and increased exercise, something too often lacking in the Canadian lifestyle, can prevent type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about diabetes, browse the following links.

More Information:
Canadian Diabetes Association
Health Canada, Diabetes
American Diabetes Association