News Release                           For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                  November 9, 2006

Get Serious About Diabetes

One in three Canadians with diabetes is undiagnosed. November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the Canadian Diabetes Association is calling on Canadians, especially baby boomers to get serious about diabetes.

Nearly two million Canadians have type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that another four million Canadians are pre-diabetic. On average people have diabetes for seven years before diagnosis. During this time, high blood glucose levels can cause serious problems including heart disease. People with diabetes are four times more likely to die of heart disease. However, early diagnosis and good diabetes management can reduce the risk. During the month of November, a message is being sent to take diabetes seriously, take control now to prevent complications later.

Excess abdominal fat; a waist circumference greater than 35 inches for a woman and more than 40 inches for a man is an indicator of health risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. Healthy eating, choosing low fat, high fiber foods, and regular physical activity are prevention strategies to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In Grey Bruce, over 50 % of baby boomers are not physically active.

A special web site has been developed for the Canadian Diabetes Association’s November campaign at www.getserious.ca. The site includes a quiz that calculates your current cardiovascular age and level of risk. It also offers prevention and management tips. Whether you are living with diabetes, or one of the millions of Canadians at risk, visit the site to learn how to better your odds.

For more information on prevention of type 2 diabetes, contact Public Health.

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For more information:

Marilyn Lemon

Chronic Disease Prevention Program

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 436