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weekender november 7 1987 p55 diabetes no sweet story doortodoor appeal this month diabetes is one of the most underrated causes of death in this country it affects over one million canadians with di agnosed cases increasing at a rate of six per cent each year classic symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst excessive urination weight loss hunger lack of energy blurred vision dry skin and slow healing of wounds anyone with any of these symptoms should be tested for diabetes diabetes results from a fai lure of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin or the bodys inability to make use of what in sulin is produced some risk factors for develop ing type ii diabetes are obesity being 20 per cent or more above your ideal body weight hered ity family history of diabetes advanced age and stress physical or emotional a recent lab development is a glycosylated hemoglobin blood test which tells the diabetic how hisher blood sugar level has been over the past two or three months some insulindependent di abetics are now wearing insulin pumps which supply a specified amount of insulin to the body throughout the day to suit the needs of the particular indi vidual and eliminate the need for daily injections in research work is proceed ing in many different direc tions studies are being done on prevention of longterm com plications the effects of fibre on the diabetic diet and the effects of vigorous exercise on insulin to name a few the diabetic good health eating guide includes meat cheese eggs nuts seeds fruit vegetables bread pasta milk yoghurt cereals rice fish chicken peanut butter crack ers soup pickles and other foods the main concerns are the portion size and the amount of carbohydrate with the new advances in home blood glucose monitoring a woman can control her blood sugar on a daily basis and have an uncomplicated pregnancy the control of diabetes varies with the individual twenty per cent of those afflicted with di abetes depend on daily injec tions of insulin to survive an insulin reaction occurs when the blood sugar level is too low to supply the brain with enough glucose the main fuel for the brain a reaction can happen when a diabetic post pones or skips a meal or snack injects more insulin than usual or participates in more exercise than normal without eating more to compensate a diabetic can usually re medy a reaction before it gets too far the treatment is sugar in the form of a glucose tablet white sugar honey fruit juice nondiet soft drink or something similar small blood vessels are usual ly first affected by diabetes this can be seen in the blood vessels in the retina of the eyes retinopathy results when these tiny vessels burst and impair vi sion if untreated retinopathy can lead to blindness a long term complication from diabetes can be poor blood circulation in the hands and feet if not remedied this condi tion can lead to gangrene and possible amputation of limbs diabetes contributes to artery and heart disease lead ing to strokes heart attacks and hardening of the arteries presently there are studies being conducted to determine the effects of good blood glucose control on long term complica tions and to determine if the complications can be averted diabetics are 25 times more prone to blindness 17 times more apt to develop kidney dis ease five times more likely to get gangrene leading to amputation three times more prone to heart disease than other people the complications make it the third leading cause of death in canada in order to maintain good con trol of this condition the diabe tic must follow a planned diet it is a nutritious diet much like that recommended for the general population with the only foods forbidden having a high sugar content diabetics are discouraged from entering professions which take them far from ac cess to medical attention and which require long periods of isolation a diabetic in good con trol can handle any job which shehe is trained the limitations of employ ment are usually in the mind of the prospective employer when seeking employment a diabetic must keep in mind the need for regular meal times and a daily routine but diabetes is not just cause for being denied a job the canadian diabetes asso ciation is funded through dona tions from individuals businesses corporations and foundations in the national annual appeal this month members all across canada will canvas doortodoor for dona tions canadian diabetes association markhamstouffville branch wishes to thank the following community minded sponsors for their continued support diabetes can be beaten olde towne pharmacy 8815660 the shops on steeles 404 shell rapid lube working to cure diabetes 98 wellington st w markham ontario 2945000 mtttju carson weeks fwm m insurance brokers wfflffllmw 59 main street north bmrafr markham ont l3p 1x7 2940722 insurance brokers guss auto service unionville kttocmum sunkisl is proud to be a part of the markham community and fully supports the markhamstouffville diabetes association open 7 days a week 4773405 4496 hwy 7 east at main st 7155 woodbine ave 4751971 sunkist is pleased to announce the opening of our new location at 48 and 16th in the spring of 1988 guardian thati my drugstore markham pharmacy corner main robinson 2940444 gord tumey bscphm the mayor and council of markham extend their best wishes to the markhamstouffville diabetes association unionville big v drug store 4721hwy7e iga plan unionville ont big v pharmacies co limited store hours monfri 99 sat 97 sun 115 4794044 era bridle trail pharmacy macr hotdlngs mwun delivery service help fight diabetes greenbelt motors w 481 unionville bypass unionville ont l3r 5h7 s 155 yonoe st n newmaritet onl l3y 7c1 416 4777734 4168934700 chevolds 2941440 diabetes can be beaten 7997 kennedy rd unionville ont l3r2e2 4772421