The facts on diabetes

• Diabetes is a serious, lifelong disease that affects some 2 million Canadians
• About 10 percent of cases are type 1 diabetes, where a person requires insulin
• About 90 percent of cases are type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented or controlled through healthy eating and being physically active
• Another type, called gestational diabetes, affects pregnant women

Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes?

• Being overweight means being at risk
• Inactivity, or leading a sedentary lifestyle, also puts you at higher risk
• Being older or of Aboriginal descent, or having a family history of the disease, are some other risk factors

Make physical activity a habit

• Walk, run, bike - make it fun!
• Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of diabetes by over 50%

Eat for health

• Eat an overall balanced diet and limit the amount of salt, fat and junk food you eat
• Choose wholegrain products, fruit and vegetables more often
• Choose lower-fat dairy products, meat, poultry and fish
• Choose peas, beans and lentils more often

It's a serious disease

Diabetes causes other diseases and complications like heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, lower-limb amputations, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disorders and complications during pregnancy.

Get informed

For more information on how you can reduce the risks of getting type 2 diabetes, visit: www.diabetes.gc.ca

For more information on the Canadian Diabetes Strategy or other Government of Canada programs and services call: 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY/TDD: 1 800 465-7735

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2002.
ISBN: 0-662-66931-2
Cat.: H39-660/2002-1