Are you at risk for diabetes?

The Canadian Diabetes website (http://www.diabetes.ca/) provides the following checklist for risk factors.

If you check any of the following boxes, you should be tested for diabetes earlier and/or more often:

	I have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.
	I am overweight (especially if you carry most of your weight around your middle).
	I am a member of a high-risk group (Aboriginal peoples, Hispanic, Asian or African descent).
	I have high cholesterol or other fats in my blood.
	I gave birth to a baby that weighed over 4 kg (9 lbs) at birth, or I had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
	I have high blood pressure.
	I have heart disease.
	I have numbness in my hands and/or feet.
	I have symptoms of diabetes

Know the signs and symptoms

While active living and healthy eating can decrease the risk of diabetes, other factors do come into play. If you have any of these symptoms, go see your doctor to be tested for diabetes.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

unusual thirst
frequent urination
unusual weight loss
extreme fatigue or lack of energy
blurred vision
frequent or recurring infections
cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
tingling or numbness in hands or feet

(From http://www.diabetes.ca/ – the Canadian Diabetes Website)

Get linked to more information about diabetes

These sites can help:

http://www.diabetes.ca/
Canadian Diabetes Association – for general information and recipes

http://www.jdfc.ca/
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada

http://www.med.ualberta.ca/news-publications/news.cfm

http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/hlthconn/topics/diabetes.htm Calgary Health Authority

http://www.healthyeatingisinstore.ca/virtual_grocery.asp
Virtual grocery shopping site

http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200305/14351.html
Diabetes Strategy 1-800-267-7532

http://www.mcdonalds.ca/en/ourmenu/index.asp
McDonalds Lighter Choices Menu Product Comparison chart

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/onpp-bppn/food_guide_rainbow_e.html
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Living

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/paguide/guides/en/pdf/YthFamilyGuideEnFinal.pdf Canada’s Family Guide to Physical Activity for Youth

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Are you at risk for diabetes?