November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Every 3 minutes 1 person in Canada is diagnosed with diabetes. Among people in Canada 30% of Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes. While there have been advances in management to better support people living with all types of diabetes, there is still no cure for the more than 11.9 million people in Canada who are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes complication contributes to 40% of heart attacks, 30% of strokes and 50% of kidney failure requiring dialysis. Diabetes is a disease in which your body either can’t produce insulin or can’t properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas. Insulin’s role is to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Blood sugar must be carefully regulated to ensure that the body functions properly. Too much blood sugar can cause damage to organs, blood vessels, and nerves. Your body also needs insulin to use sugar for energy. Diabetes can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Did you know? Diabetes-related expenses comprise a major portion of our drug plan.

If you have diabetes, Teladoc has a few resources and tools to help you learn more about managing your condition:

Diabetes Canada also has a tool library about managing and screening for diabetes: https://www.diabetes.ca/living-with-diabetes/tools-and-resources.

This month reminds us to learn about the risk factors associated with diabetes. Raising awareness can encourage us to look for symptoms and seek treatment. Symptoms of diabetes can be increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, make sure you consult a medical doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Managing diabetes involves a combination of medication, healthy diet, regular exercises, and monitoring blood sugar levels. Spreading awareness about self-care and health in general can empower all of us to take control of our health. Raising awareness is crucial to preventing the onset of this condition, and helps those living with diabetes to receive the support and resources they need. By educating ourselves and others, we can make a positive impact on those of us who are affected by diabetes. Raise awareness and reduce the risk this November.  If you’re wondering if you have diabetes, make an appointment with your family doctor. You can take also see what your risk factor for diabetes is by taking this CANRISK test:  https://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/en/canrisk.

To learn more about diabetes and support to live a healthy lifestyle visit the Diabetes Canada website at diabetes.ca. You can also find information about diabetes and diabetes information through your Member Assistance Program (MAP) Telus Health at https://app.one.telushealth.com/. Access your MAP 24/7 by phone, web or mobile app, visit Telus Health One. Username: canadalife | Password: telus1

Questions? We’re here to help! You can email us at members@teibas.com or call us at 416-637-6789 (toll-free 1-800-267-0602) for assistance during our regular office hours (Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).