
The Diabetes Overview section provides basic information about:
- types of diabetes
- diabetes symptoms
- conditions or risk factors that may lead to diabetes
- diabetes in children
- diabetes and seniors
- diabetes and pregnancy
Maybe you have been newly diagnosed and are looking for a starting point for information. Or perhaps you are looking for resources because you are caring for someone with diabetes. We’re delighted you have started your journey of discovery with us!
There are over 3 million people in Canada living with diabetes. There is more than one type of diabetes, so it is important to know the name of the type of diabetes that you or your family member have been diagnosed with. It will usually be one of the following three types:
Maybe you, your child or another family member have some symptoms that make you believe that you might have developed diabetes. This is where you can learn more about symptoms of diabetes.
Life is a journey, and so is diabetes. You may start out wondering if you are at risk, because you are concerned that another family member has been diagnosed, or your doctor has identified some risk factors. Read more about risk of diabetes, here.
If you are diagnosed, self-management is very important in order to control blood glucose levels and reduce complications.
The type 2 diabetes treatment plan includes a combination of:
- healthy eating
- physical activity, and in most cases
- medication
Type 1 diabetes is mainly managed with insulin.
What about ‘borderline diabetes‘, also known as ‘prediabetes’? According to Diabetes Canada, more than 5.7 million people have prediabetes. To gain a better understanding of what this term means and how to prevent this from progressing to diabetes, read the section about prediabetes.
After you check out these introductory pages about the types of diabetes, you can gain a deeper understanding by exploring the many articles and blog posts in the Diabetes Care Community.
Diabetes Overview Articles
- Diabetes medications during pregnancy and breastfeedingIf you have diabetes and are planning on having a baby, there are some things you should know about medications and blood glucose control.
- Back-to-school tips for people with diabetesThe back-to-school period brings lots of new beginnings. New beginnings are exciting but also bring challenges, especially for students with diabetes in the later years of high school.
- What’s the connection between stroke and diabetes?People with diabetes are two to four times as likely to have a stroke compared to those without. They’re also at higher risk of a having a stroker earlier and with more severe outcomes.
- 4 tips from seniors on living with diabetesThe good news is, more and more of us are reaching our senior years. But that also means more of us are living with diabetes. In fact, the research shows that nearly half of people in Canada with type 2 diabetes are over the age of 65.
- Is there a way to determine if I am at risk for diabetes?
- Diabetes for two...diabetes diagnosis during pregnancyThere are several types of 'diabetes in pregnancy'. Diabetes can sometimes present for the first time during a pregnancy. This type, which is usually picked up by a routine test about half way through the pregnancy, is called gestational diabetes.
- What are the risks of having gestational diabetes?Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It is estimated that 3% to 20% of women across Canada will develop gestational diabetes every year. So what are the risks of having gestational diabetes?
- Pregnancy and type 1 or type 2 diabetesIt is important to manage your pregnancy if you have pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- Managing a diagnosis of gestational diabetesPregnancy can present challenges for any women. However, managing a diagnosis of gestational diabetes can add additional challenges and therefore result in new stressors in a woman’s life.
- Type 2 diabetes prevention programs in CanadaIf you are at risk for diabetes or are living with prediabetes, a diabetes prevention program can provide you with valuable information about how to prevent it.