TORONTO, Ont. (Nov. 1, 2019) – An estimated 11 million Canadians are living with or affected by diabetes, underlining the importance of raising awareness of the disease.
To mark Diabetes Awareness Month this November, Diabetes Canada is unveiling its ‘Let’s End Diabetes Together’ campaign. Canadians are encouraged to visit the diabetes.ca/diabetes-awareness-month to submit their stories and/or share their stories/videos on their favourite social platforms, using #EndDiabetes, to raise awareness about diabetes, its risk factors and misconceptions.
“There has never been a more urgent time to create greater awareness of diabetes,” says Dr. Jan Hux, president and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “One in three Canadians have diabetes* or prediabetes, and those at age 20 now face a 50 per cent chance of developing the disease. That staggering number speaks to the epidemic diabetes has become across Canada.”
Through collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships, we can work to End Diabetes together. We can do so by educating and building awareness to help improve quality of life, by investing in research and advocating for a comprehensive nation-wide diabetes strategy (Diabetes 360°).
All those visiting diabetes.ca/diabetes-awareness-month can share their story from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. Canadians are also encouraged to download our ‘Let’s End Diabetes Together’ cover photos to add to their social media profile pictures (available on the above website) for the month of November to raise awareness. In addition, visitors can assess their risk of developing diabetes, access tools and resources, get involved in local events and take action by advocating for a nation-wide diabetes strategy.
*Inclusive of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which your body either can't produce insulin or can't properly use the insulin it produces. It is a complex disease with multiple causes and no known cure. The three main types are:
- Type 1 diabetes is found in five to 10 per cent of Canadians with diabetes and occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
- Type 2 diabetes is the most common, where the pancreas either cannot effectively use or produce enough insulin. It is found in approximately 90-95 per cent of Canadians living with diabetes. The causes of type 2 diabetes can be genetic, behavioural and/or environmental. People of Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic or African descent are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Prediabetes occurs when an individual’s blood glucose levels are high, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 50 per cent of those with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
About Diabetes Awareness Month
Today, 11 million Canadians are living with or affected by diabetes—that’s one in three. This November, ‘Let’s End Diabetes Together’ and create greater awareness. Please visit diabetes.ca/diabetes-awareness-month to share your story and learn how else you can get involved.
About Diabetes Canada
Diabetes Canada is the registered national charitable organization that is making the invisible epidemic of diabetes visible and urgent. Diabetes Canada partners with Canadians to End Diabetes through:
- Resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes;
- Advocacy to governments, schools and workplaces; and
- Funding world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure.
For more information, visit diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).